Dave Cusack
Encyclopedia
David Stephen "Dave" Cusack (born 6 June 1956) is an English
former footballer and manager who is currently chairman of Essex Senior League side Basildon United
. A central defender, he made over 500 appearances in a career spanning 16 years.
, as a child Cusack attended school in Thurcroft and later went to Wales High School
.
, making his way through the clubs youth system and also captaining the reserve side. After making 95 league appearances for the side, he moved to Southend United
in 1978 for a then club record £50,000, where he would win the Fourth Division championship in 1981. A move to Millwall
followed the following year for £30,000.
He moved to Doncaster Rovers
as player-manager in 1985, replacing Billy Bremner
. The 1985–86 season would see Doncaster emerge as promotion contenders before eventually finishing 11th place, which would be one of Doncaster's highest placings in the league since relegation from the Second Division in 1958 and until recent times. Another mid-table finish (following a promising start) came the following season but Doncaster were facing relegation by 1988 and Cusack left the club during the season. Cusack took over at Rotherham United
with the Millers in mid-table, but left in April and a slide down the league led to a promotion/relegation play-off with Swansea City
which was lost.
He later became player-manager at Boston United
. In 1992, he spent a short spell as manager of Kettering Town
but, with the club in financial turmoil, Cusack was sacked following the appointment of new owners after taking charge of just seven games.
He is currently chairman at Basildon United
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer and manager who is currently chairman of Essex Senior League side Basildon United
Basildon United F.C.
Basildon United Football Club is an English football club based in Basildon, Essex. They currently compete in the Essex Senior League and are nicknamed the Bees, due to the club adopting amber and black as the team colours.-1967 to 1970:...
. A central defender, he made over 500 appearances in a career spanning 16 years.
Early life
Born in ThurcroftThurcroft
Thurcroft is a village and civil parish situated southeast of Rotherham in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, England. From 1902 to 1991, it was a close-knit, mining community. It has a population of 5,296....
, as a child Cusack attended school in Thurcroft and later went to Wales High School
Wales High School
Wales High School is an academy for 11–18 year olds, located in Kiveton, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. Opened in 1970, the school provides education for its many connecting villages. Kiveton Park, Harthill, Todwick, Wales, Thurcroft and South Anston are the major villages which...
.
Career
Cusack began his career with Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, making his way through the clubs youth system and also captaining the reserve side. After making 95 league appearances for the side, he moved to Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
in 1978 for a then club record £50,000, where he would win the Fourth Division championship in 1981. A move to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
followed the following year for £30,000.
He moved to Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
as player-manager in 1985, replacing Billy Bremner
Billy Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road...
. The 1985–86 season would see Doncaster emerge as promotion contenders before eventually finishing 11th place, which would be one of Doncaster's highest placings in the league since relegation from the Second Division in 1958 and until recent times. Another mid-table finish (following a promising start) came the following season but Doncaster were facing relegation by 1988 and Cusack left the club during the season. Cusack took over at Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
with the Millers in mid-table, but left in April and a slide down the league led to a promotion/relegation play-off with Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
which was lost.
He later became player-manager at Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
. In 1992, he spent a short spell as manager of Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
but, with the club in financial turmoil, Cusack was sacked following the appointment of new owners after taking charge of just seven games.
He is currently chairman at Basildon United
Basildon United F.C.
Basildon United Football Club is an English football club based in Basildon, Essex. They currently compete in the Essex Senior League and are nicknamed the Bees, due to the club adopting amber and black as the team colours.-1967 to 1970:...
.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Country | From | To | Record | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
 |
1 October 1985 | 7 December 1987 | 114 | 34 | 33 | 47 | ||
| Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
|
23 December 1987 | 1 April 1988 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 4 | ||
| Kettering Town Kettering Town F.C. Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08... |
|
June 1992 | September 1992 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Total | 138 | 42 | 42 | 54 | |||||