Dave Durie
Encyclopedia
David George Durie is an English
former professional football player. He played as a forward
.
Blackpool
-born Durie began his professional career with his hometown club
in 1952. He was signed as a deputy to Allan Brown, but eventually succeeded him. He made his Football League debut on March 3, 1953, in a single-goal victory at Burnley
. He made six more league appearances that season
, and scored one goal in a 5–1 defeat at Middlesbrough
on 11 April.
In 1953–54
, Durie made three league appearances. He again scored one goal, in a 4–2 victory over local rivals Preston North End
at Bloomfield Road
on March 31, 1954.
Durie attained the same statistics in 1954–55
, his goal this time coming in a 3–3 draw at Charlton Athletic
on September 16, 1954.
In 1955–56
, with Allan Brown out through injury, Durie made fifteen league appearances, scoring fourteen goals. He also made his FA Cup
debut, against Manchester City
on January 3, 1956. The match was abandoned after 50 minutes due to fog, however.
Durie was the club's second-top scorer behind Jackie Mudie
in 1956–57
, with 22 goals in all competitions to his name. He scored a hat-trick in the second league game of the season, a 3–2 victory at Everton
in front of 55,000 spectators. He also scored his first FA Cup goal, in a 6–2 win at home to Fulham
in the fourth round.
Two seasons later, it was Durie's strike against Bristol City
in an FA Cup fourth-round replay that put Blackpool through to the next round. He scored again in the fifth round, with Blackpool eventually being eliminated after a sixth-round replay.
Durie scored the second hat-trick of his career in a 4–1 victory over Burnley in a league fixture on October 10, 1959. He scored another hat-trick later that season in an FA Cup third-round tie at home to Mansfield Town
. His treble were the only goals of the game.
In 1960–61
, Durie scored his first goal in the brand-new League Cup
competition. It came in a second-round replay at home to Leeds United, but Leeds progressed with a 3–1 scoreline. Durie had become the first Blackpool player to score in the League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Although he remained a regular in the team, Durie's goals dried up after manager Ron Suart
moved him back in the formation.
Durie's final appearance for Blackpool occurred on December 28, 1964, in a single-goal league defeat at Chelsea
. He had scored in the reverse fixture two days earlier, although Blackpool lost 5–1 in front of their own fans.
He went on to play for Chester City
for three years, before finishing his career back on the Fylde Coast with Fleetwood Town
.
voted Durie as the best example of a player who had never been sent off or booked in over 300 League and cup games.
teacher during his playing days. His religious beliefs meant he would not play on Christian holidays. One such example was the Blackpool v. Preston North End West Lancashire derby
on 4 April 1958, which happened to be Good Friday
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional football player. He played as a forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
-born Durie began his professional career with his hometown club
Blackpool 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 1952. He was signed as a deputy to Allan Brown, but eventually succeeded him. He made his Football League debut on March 3, 1953, in a single-goal victory at Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
. He made six more league appearances that season
Blackpool F.C. season 1952-53
The 1952-53 season was Blackpool F.C.s 46th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing seventh....
, and scored one goal in a 5–1 defeat at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
on 11 April.
In 1953–54
Blackpool F.C. season 1953-54
The 1953-54 season was Blackpool F.C.s 47th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing sixth....
, Durie made three league appearances. He again scored one goal, in a 4–2 victory over local rivals Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
on March 31, 1954.
Durie attained the same statistics in 1954–55
Blackpool F.C. season 1954-55
The 1954-55 season was Blackpool F.C.s 48th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing nineteenth....
, his goal this time coming in a 3–3 draw at Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on September 16, 1954.
In 1955–56
Blackpool F.C. season 1955-56
The 1955-56 season was Blackpool F.C.s 49th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing second, their highest finish in the English league system to date, despite losing their final four League games.Jackie Mudie was...
, with Allan Brown out through injury, Durie made fifteen league appearances, scoring fourteen goals. He also made his FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
debut, against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
on January 3, 1956. The match was abandoned after 50 minutes due to fog, however.
Durie was the club's second-top scorer behind Jackie Mudie
Jackie Mudie
John "Jackie" Knight Mudie was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward. He won seventeen caps for his country, helping the Scots to qualify for the 1958 FIFA World Cup....
in 1956–57
Blackpool F.C. season 1956-57
The 1956-57 season was Blackpool F.C.s 50th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing fourth....
, with 22 goals in all competitions to his name. He scored a hat-trick in the second league game of the season, a 3–2 victory at 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...
in front of 55,000 spectators. He also scored his first FA Cup goal, in a 6–2 win at home to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in the fourth round.
Two seasons later, it was Durie's strike against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in an FA Cup fourth-round replay that put Blackpool through to the next round. He scored again in the fifth round, with Blackpool eventually being eliminated after a sixth-round replay.
Durie scored the second hat-trick of his career in a 4–1 victory over Burnley in a league fixture on October 10, 1959. He scored another hat-trick later that season in an FA Cup third-round tie at home 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...
. His treble were the only goals of the game.
In 1960–61
Blackpool F.C. season 1960-61
The 1960-61 season was Blackpool F.C.s 54th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing twentieth....
, Durie scored his first goal in the brand-new League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
competition. It came in a second-round replay at home to Leeds United, but Leeds progressed with a 3–1 scoreline. Durie had become the first Blackpool player to score in the League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Although he remained a regular in the team, Durie's goals dried up after manager Ron Suart
Ron Suart
Ronald Suart is an English former football player and manager.-Playing days:Suart was a full-back at Blackpool, playing alongside fellow defenders George Farrow and Harry Johnston in a team which also included Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen. Blackpool reached the 1948 FA Cup Final, but Suart...
moved him back in the formation.
Durie's final appearance for Blackpool occurred on December 28, 1964, in a single-goal league defeat at Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. He had scored in the reverse fixture two days earlier, although Blackpool lost 5–1 in front of their own fans.
He went on to play for Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
for three years, before finishing his career back on the Fylde Coast with Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
.
Accolades
In December 1963, club managers, players and the Professional Footballers' AssociationProfessional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
voted Durie as the best example of a player who had never been sent off or booked in over 300 League and cup games.
Religion
Durie was a Methodist Sunday SchoolSunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
teacher during his playing days. His religious beliefs meant he would not play on Christian holidays. One such example was the Blackpool v. Preston North End West Lancashire derby
West Lancashire derby
The West Lancashire derby is a local derby in English football, between Lancashire neighbours Blackpool F.C. and Preston North End F.C. The derby has taken place across all four tiers of the Football League, but not yet in the Premier League...
on 4 April 1958, which happened to be Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
.