Players - David Speedie

David Speedie
Birthdate: 20 February 1960
Birthplace: Glenrothes, Scotland
Other clubs: Barnsley (1978-80), Darlington (1980-82), Chelsea (1982-87), Coventry City (1987-91), Blackburn Rovers (1991-92), Southampton (1992-93), Birmingham City (loan 1992-93); WBA (loan), West Ham United (loan 1993), Leicester City (1993-94), Crawley Town (1994-96); Atherstone United, Hendon (1996), Stamford (1996-97); Kirby Muxloe, Guiseley (1997), Crook Town (1997-98), Harrow Borough (1999-2000), Rainworth Miners Welfare (2006-07), Harworth Colliery Institute (2007), Francis (2011)
Signed from: Coventry City
Signed for LFC: £675,000, 30.01.1991
International debut: 25.05.1985 vs. England
International caps: 10/0 - 30.05.1989
Liverpool debut: 03.02.1991
Last appearance: 11.05.1991
Debut goal: 03.02.1991
Last goal: 11.05.1991
Contract expiry: 15 August 1991
Win ratio: 35.71% W:5 D:3 L:6
Games/goals ratio: 2.33
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 13 / 3
League games / goals / assists: 12 / 6 / 0
Total games / goals / assists: 14 / 6 / 0

Player Profile

The fiery Scotsman was a surprising purchase by Kenny Dalglish, arriving only three weeks before King Kenny announced his resignation on 22 February 1991. Liverpool was Speedie's fifth Football League club where had enjoyed most success with Chelsea winning the second division and finishing sixth in two consecutive seasons in the first division. He formed a lethal partnership with Kerry Dixon at Stamford Bridge and netted 47 goals in 162 League games from 1982 - 1987 Speedie left for Coventry City where he continued to impress in the top division. Speedie thought that his chance to join a top club had passed him by but grabbed the opportunity with both hands. "It was third time Kenny had tried to buy me," Speedie revealed. "He had tried before when I was at Chelsea and Coventry. I nearly joined in 86/87." Chelsea Chairman, Ken Bates, didn't want to let Speedie go at the time, but a second chance had presented itself four seasons later.

Speedie started his Anfield career in explosive fashion. He scored an equalizer at Manchester United on his debut and gained immense popularity by scoring twice in four minutes in the Merseyside derby on his home debut a week later. His brief career at Liverpool can hardly be called a failure because he scored in every other League game, a total of six in 12 League matches from the time of his signing until the final day of the 1990/91 season. Speedie was one of numerous casualties of the early days of the Graeme Souness era. After hurtling a few expletives in Souness' direction Speedie's Liverpool career was most definitely over. 

Before 1991 was over, Speedie had moved to Blackburn Rovers. Dalglish followed a few months later becoming Speedie's boss for the second time. Speedie's single season was a fantastic success, scoring 23 goals in 36 League games as Rovers were promoted to the Premier League. But the long list of Football League clubs who had Speedie as a registered player would continue to grow. After leaving Leicester at the end of the 1993/94 season, Speedie featured for a number of non-League clubs before retiring as a player to work as a football agent where his most notable client was Steve Simonsen. He quit his profession after he divorced his wife, giving her his license, later claiming it was the biggest mistake of his life. Speedie played for Harworth Colliery Institute in 2007 and amazingly took out his boots again in 2011 featuring for Francis AFC in the third division of the Dublin's United Churches League. In addition to his apparent wanderlust, he also had problems with his temperament, which frequently drew him into confrontation with opponents, teammates and officials.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 12 2 0 0 0 14
1990-1991 12 2 0 0 0 14
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
3 169 Everton
1 90 Tottenham
1 90 Sunderland
1 90 Manchester United
1 90 Leeds United
1 90 Chelsea
1 90 Manchester City
1 90 Nottingham Forest
1 26 Coventry City
1 23 Arsenal
1 22 Luton Town
1 9 Southampton
Total Started/substitutions
9 Started
5 On the bench
5 Substitute
2 Substituted
Total Venue
8 Away
6 Home
Total Competition
12 League
2 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
8 3 1 4 37.5% Ronnie Moran
3 1 2 0 33.3% Kenny Dalglish
3 1 0 2 33.3% Graeme Souness
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 6 0 0 0 0 6
1990-1991 6 0 0 0 0 6
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Started/substitutions
6 Started
0 Substitute
Total Competition
6 League
Total Goal minute period
1 16-30 minutes
1 31-45 minutes
3 46-60 minutes
1 61-75 minutes
Total Goal origin
6 Open play
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 03.02.1991 Manchester United Old Trafford League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 39 03.02.1991 Manchester United Old Trafford League
Related Articles
Would you reffing believe it!

Daily Mirror from 13 April 1996.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Francis AFC ...

He enjoyed a lengthy career at the top level of English football, so how did David Speedie end up in Dublin’s United Churches League? The former Liverpool striker tells the story of an eventful life to Daniel McDonnell. Published Monday April 18 2011.

Instant hero after Speedie impact

In the second of our series on forgotten derby heroes, Christopher Beesley catches up with David Speedie. From Liverpool Daily Post on 31st January 2007.

Speedie just too quick for the Toffees

Match report by Press Association on 09.02.1991.

Related Quotes

"My Liverpool career was not ended by Kenny Dalglish’s departure, it was killed by Graeme Souness’ arrival. We just never got on with each other. I knew him from Scotland and I found him to be a real big head and you just don’t get away with being like that with me. The rest of my time at Liverpool was very uncomfortable. It still annoys me though when people say Robbie Keane has been the biggest flop at Anfield since me. I scored six goals in about 12 appearances and in the end the manager just did not like me."

David Speedie in 2009

David Speedie, 35, had to sit out his fourth suspension of the season following his 12th booking. Beazer Homes League side Crawley axed the fiery Scotsman after he rebelled against a club fine of two weeks' wages, around 500 pounds. "David was angry at being fined and asked for his contract to be cancelled. We were happy to agree to his request."

Chairman John Maggs of non-League Crawley in February 1996.

Scrapbook
David Speedie on the cover of Shoot! 23 February 1991
David Speedie on the cover of Shoot! 23 February 1991
Focus on Chelsea's David Speedie
Focus on Chelsea's David Speedie
Shoot! 20 February 1988
Shoot! 20 February 1988
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Barnsley 1978-1979 England Fourth Division 10 0 10 0
Barnsley 1979-1980 England Third Division 13 0 13 0
Darlington 1980-1981 England Fourth Division 44 4 47 4
Darlington 1981-1982 England Fourth Division 44 17 48 18
Chelsea 1982-1983 England Second Division 34 7 40 9
Chelsea 1983-1984 England Second Division 37 13 41 13
Chelsea 1984-1985 England First Division 35 10 47 11
Chelsea 1985-1986 England First Division 34 14 44 17
Chelsea 1986-1987 England First Division 22 3 27 3
Coventry City 1987-1988 England First Division 36 6 40 6
Coventry City 1988-1989 England First Division 36 14 41 15
Coventry City 1989-1990 England First Division 32 8 40 9
Coventry City 1990-1991 England First Division 18 3 20 4
Blackburn Rovers 1991-1992 England Second Division 36 23 43 26
Southampton 1992-1993 England Premier League 11 0 12 0
Birmingham City 1992-1993 England First Division 10 2 10 2
WBA 1992-1993 England Second Division 7 2 7 2
West Ham United 1992-1993 England First Division 15 0 15 0
Leicester City 1993-1994 England First Division 37 12 42 13
Crawley Town 1995-1996 Southern League Premier Division N/A N/A N/A N/A
Atherstone United 1996 Southern League Premier Division N/A N/A N/A N/A
Hendon 1996 Ishtmian League Premier Division 5 0 5 0
Stamford 1996-1997 United Counties Premier Division N/A N/A N/A N/A
Kirby Muxloe 1997 Leicestershire Senior League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Guiseley 1997 Northern Premier League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Crook Town 1997-1998 Northern League Division One N/A N/A N/A N/A
Harrow Borough 1999-2000 Isthmian Premier Division N/A N/A N/A N/A
Rainworth Miners Welfare 2006-2007 Central Midlands League Supreme Division N/A N/A N/A N/A
Harworth Colliery Institute 2007 Central Midlands League Supreme Division N/A N/A N/A N/A
Francis 2011 Dublin's United Churches League Division Three N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total 516 138 592 152