- 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 |
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
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
Daily Mirror from 13 April 1996.
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.
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.
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
Focus on Chelsea's David Speedie
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 |