David Caldwell
Encyclopedia
David Wilson Caldwell is a Scottish
former professional footballer who played as a forward.
side Inverness Caledonian
. His goalscoring form in Scotland
led to a £25,000 move to Mansfield Town
in June 1979 and the start of an impressive, and sometimes controversial career in professional football.
He made his debut on 29 September 1979 in a 1-0 defeat against Reading
at Elm Park
, coming on as substitute after 76 minutes. Another substitute and one full appearance followed later that season. The following year saw Caldwell establish himself in the Mansfield side, although a series of bookings led to the first of many suspensions, and as Mansfield just missed out on promotion, Caldwell was sent off late in the season for kicking a player who was already on the ground. Over the next couple seasons, it appeared that his temperament was improving and the goals still flowed. The 1983-84 season started badly when Caldwell was arrested (and subsequently fined) in September 1983 for missing a court case brought against him for failing a breath test. A month later he was sent off after only 14 minutes for punching a Reading defender and was promptly transfer listed by Mansfield manager Ian Greaves
, a decision which was unchanged by Caldwell scoring 4 goals in the next game. He remained in the side, in between suspensions, and continued to find the net.
In December 1984, Caldwell asked for a transfer from Mansfield. Even though he was a regular in the side, he was sent on loan to Carlisle United
within the same month. On returning to Field Mill
2 months later, he was immediately loaned to Swindon Town
, but after a further month away he returned to Mansfield and sporadic appearances in the Mansfield side. His final game for the Stags came in 1985.It was no surprise that he moved on in the summer, joining Chesterfield
for a fee of £12,000 after scoring 57 goals in 157 league games for the Stags.
He scored 17 times in 68 league games for Chesterfield before moving to Torquay United
for £7,000 in November 1987. He scored with an overhead kick on his home debut against Hereford United
, and although sent off 3 more times that season (for which he received an 8 match ban) his ability to lead the attack made him an unlikely favourite of the crowd as Torquay made the play-offs and got further than usual in the cup competitions.
In August 1988 he left Plainmoor for Belgian
side KVV Overpelt
(costing £13,000) after 24 league games for the Gulls, scoring 4 times, but returned to Torquay on loan in December 1989. Following a spell playing in South Africa, in October 1990 he returned to Chesterfield, with a fee of £14,500 resembling a reasonable piece of business by the Belgian side. He played a further 32 league games, scoring 4 times for Chesterfield before a cartilage injury forced him to retire from league football.
On leaving Chesterfield in May 1992, he returned to play for Inverness Caledonian
until 1994 when he moved to a Highland League team based in Aberdeen
. Whilst playing in Aberdeen he began working as a sales executive for an office equipment business. He continued this job, combining it with a part-time role as manager of Highland League Lossiemouth
between 1998 and 1999. Whilst his football management was successful, at the end of the season he was offered a job as group sales manager for Xerox
Concessionaire in Edinburgh
, which he took, leaving football behind him.
Now living in Glasgow, alongside coaching another side, Caldwell has made two substitute appearances for Cardonald AC, scoring the winning goal in his most recent outing.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Career
Caldwell began his career with Highland LeagueHighland Football League
The Press & Journal Highland Football League is a league of football clubs operating not just in the Scottish Highlands, as the name may suggest, but also in the north-east lowlands...
side Inverness Caledonian
Caledonian F.C.
Caledonian Football Club was a football club from the city of Inverness, Highland, Scotland.-Formation:Caledonian Football Club was formed in 1885 by lads from the 'Big Green' area of Inverness, though some sources quote 1886. They were founder members of the Highland Football League in 1893 and...
. His goalscoring form in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
led to a £25,000 move to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in June 1979 and the start of an impressive, and sometimes controversial career in professional football.
He made his debut on 29 September 1979 in a 1-0 defeat against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
at Elm Park
Elm Park (stadium)
Elm Park was a football stadium in the West Reading district of the English town of Reading. It was the home of Reading Football Club from 1896 until 1998, when they moved to the new Madejski Stadium....
, coming on as substitute after 76 minutes. Another substitute and one full appearance followed later that season. The following year saw Caldwell establish himself in the Mansfield side, although a series of bookings led to the first of many suspensions, and as Mansfield just missed out on promotion, Caldwell was sent off late in the season for kicking a player who was already on the ground. Over the next couple seasons, it appeared that his temperament was improving and the goals still flowed. The 1983-84 season started badly when Caldwell was arrested (and subsequently fined) in September 1983 for missing a court case brought against him for failing a breath test. A month later he was sent off after only 14 minutes for punching a Reading defender and was promptly transfer listed by Mansfield manager Ian Greaves
Ian Greaves
Ian Denzil Greaves was an English football player and manager. He was born in Crompton, Lancashire. He won a League Championship medal and an FA Cup runners-up medal while playing fullback for Manchester United between 1953 and 1960...
, a decision which was unchanged by Caldwell scoring 4 goals in the next game. He remained in the side, in between suspensions, and continued to find the net.
In December 1984, Caldwell asked for a transfer from Mansfield. Even though he was a regular in the side, he was sent on loan to Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
within the same month. On returning to Field Mill
Field Mill
Field Mill is a multi-use stadium in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.It is currently occupied by its main tenant, Mansfield Town.The stadium has a capacity of around 10,000 when fully open, but due to the Bishop Street Stand being closed and safety restrictions, the ground currently holds less...
2 months later, he was immediately loaned to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, but after a further month away he returned to Mansfield and sporadic appearances in the Mansfield side. His final game for the Stags came in 1985.It was no surprise that he moved on in the summer, joining Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
for a fee of £12,000 after scoring 57 goals in 157 league games for the Stags.
He scored 17 times in 68 league games for Chesterfield before moving to Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
for £7,000 in November 1987. He scored with an overhead kick on his home debut against Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
, and although sent off 3 more times that season (for which he received an 8 match ban) his ability to lead the attack made him an unlikely favourite of the crowd as Torquay made the play-offs and got further than usual in the cup competitions.
In August 1988 he left Plainmoor for Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
side KVV Overpelt
K.V.S.K. United Overpelt-Lommel
Lommel United is a Belgian association football club based in the city of Lommel, Limburg.It was founded as K.V.S.K. United Overpelt-Lommel, often referred to as K.V.S.K. United, in 2003 following the bankruptcy of K.F.C. Lommel S.K. The remains of the club were integrated into K.V.V....
(costing £13,000) after 24 league games for the Gulls, scoring 4 times, but returned to Torquay on loan in December 1989. Following a spell playing in South Africa, in October 1990 he returned to Chesterfield, with a fee of £14,500 resembling a reasonable piece of business by the Belgian side. He played a further 32 league games, scoring 4 times for Chesterfield before a cartilage injury forced him to retire from league football.
On leaving Chesterfield in May 1992, he returned to play for Inverness Caledonian
Caledonian F.C.
Caledonian Football Club was a football club from the city of Inverness, Highland, Scotland.-Formation:Caledonian Football Club was formed in 1885 by lads from the 'Big Green' area of Inverness, though some sources quote 1886. They were founder members of the Highland Football League in 1893 and...
until 1994 when he moved to a Highland League team based in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. Whilst playing in Aberdeen he began working as a sales executive for an office equipment business. He continued this job, combining it with a part-time role as manager of Highland League Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth F.C.
Lossiemouth F.C. are a senior football club from Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland. They play in the Highland Football League.Founded in 1945, they were admitted to the Highland League in the following year and have played in that league ever since. The club play their football at Grant Park...
between 1998 and 1999. Whilst his football management was successful, at the end of the season he was offered a job as group sales manager for Xerox
Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
Concessionaire in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, which he took, leaving football behind him.
Now living in Glasgow, alongside coaching another side, Caldwell has made two substitute appearances for Cardonald AC, scoring the winning goal in his most recent outing.