David Bardsley
Encyclopedia
David John Bardsley is an English former professional football
er.
in 1982 and subsequently moved to Watford in 1983 for £150,000 where he was noted for his pace, and played every game in Watford's run to the 1984 FA Cup Final
, where they eventually lost to Everton
. He played 121 matches in all competitions for Watford, scoring nine goals. In September 1987 Bardsley transferred to Oxford United
to replace David Langan for a then club record of £265,000. He played 89 games for Oxford scoring seven goals. In 1989 Bardsley completed a £500,000 move to QPR
.
Bardsley played in the QPR team of the early to mid-1990s that finished fifth in the Premier League in 1992–93
, eighth in 1993–94
and eighth in 1995
. He was part of the Premier League Team of the Year for 1992–93, the inaugural season of the Premier League.
After QPR's relegation from the FA Premier League
in 1996, Bardsley suffered a potentially career-threatening Achilles tendon injury which kept him out for the best part of two seasons. He returned at the tail end of the 1997–98 season in the midst of a relegation battle under Gerry Francis
' management. He played 253 games for QPR scoring four goals, helping keep QPR in Division One and the Premier League.
Bardsley was released on a free transfer at the end of the 1997–98 season and returned to play for his first club, Blackpool.
After leaving Blackpool, Bardsley played for Northwich Victoria
.
by his former club manager Graham Taylor
during the 1992–93 season playing against Spain
and Poland
in a Friendly and World Cup Qualifier respectively.
reported that he was the director of Ajax's academy in Florida
. His schools subsequently ended their association with Ajax, but continued to operate.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er.
Club career
Bardsley started with BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in 1982 and subsequently moved to Watford in 1983 for £150,000 where he was noted for his pace, and played every game in Watford's run to the 1984 FA Cup Final
1984 FA Cup Final
The 1984 FA Cup Final was contested by Everton and Watford at Wembley. Everton won 2–0, with one goal by Graeme Sharp and a particularly memorable goal from Andy Gray. He was adjudged by many to have fouled the Watford goalkeeper Steve Sherwood by heading the ball from Sherwood's hands....
, where they eventually lost to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. He played 121 matches in all competitions for Watford, scoring nine goals. In September 1987 Bardsley transferred to Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
to replace David Langan for a then club record of £265,000. He played 89 games for Oxford scoring seven goals. In 1989 Bardsley completed a £500,000 move to QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
Bardsley played in the QPR team of the early to mid-1990s that finished fifth in the Premier League in 1992–93
FA Premier League 1992-93
The 1992–93 FA Premier League was the first season of the Premier League, the top division of English football. The league was made up of the 22 clubs that broke away from The Football League at the end of the 1991–92 season. The new league was backed up by a five-year, £305 million deal with...
, eighth in 1993–94
FA Premier League 1993-94
-New league sponsors:From the start of the 1993-94 season, the FA Premier League was sponsored by Carling Breweries.-Promoted teams:Newcastle United and West Ham were promoted to the Premier League from the First Division as champions and runners-up respectively. The last promotion place was won by...
and eighth in 1995
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
. He was part of the Premier League Team of the Year for 1992–93, the inaugural season of the Premier League.
After QPR's relegation from the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
in 1996, Bardsley suffered a potentially career-threatening Achilles tendon injury which kept him out for the best part of two seasons. He returned at the tail end of the 1997–98 season in the midst of a relegation battle under Gerry Francis
Gerry Francis
Gerald Charles James Francis is an English former footballer and manager, now working as First Team coach at Stoke City.-Playing career:Francis made his debut for Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool in March 1969...
' management. He played 253 games for QPR scoring four goals, helping keep QPR in Division One and the Premier League.
Bardsley was released on a free transfer at the end of the 1997–98 season and returned to play for his first club, Blackpool.
After leaving Blackpool, Bardsley played for Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
.
International career
Bardsley's international career started at at youth level where he earnt six England Youth International caps. Then progressing onto earning 4 England U21 caps. While at QPR, Bardsley was capped twice for EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
by his former club manager Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor (football manager)
Graham Taylor OBE is a football pundit, ex-football manager, and a former player. He is best known as the manager of the England national football team, as well as being manager of Watford, a club he took from the Fourth Division to the First in the space of five years, then from bottom of the...
during the 1992–93 season playing against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
and Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
in a Friendly and World Cup Qualifier respectively.
Retirement
After Northwich Victoria, Bardsley opened his own soccer schools. He subsequently moved to America and in March 2007 BBC SportBBC Sport
BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC. It became a fully dedicated division of the BBC in 2000. It incorporates programmes such as Match of the Day, Grandstand , Test Match Special, Ski Sunday, Rugby Special and coverage of Formula One motor racing, MotoGP and the Wimbledon Tennis...
reported that he was the director of Ajax's academy in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. His schools subsequently ended their association with Ajax, but continued to operate.