David Eyres
Encyclopedia
David Eyres is an English
former professional football
er.
non-league side Rhyl
before signing, in 1989 at the age of 25, professional terms with Blackpool
for a fee of £10,000. He made his debut for the club on 22 August 1989, in a 2-2 draw at Burnley
in the League Cup
first round, first leg. He scored his first goal for the club three months later, on 11 November, in a 4-0 League victory over Brentford
at Bloomfield Road
. He spent four seasons with the Seasiders, two of which ended with appearances at Wembley in the play-off finals (achieving promotion in 1991-92
). He also finished as the club's top league goalscorer in 1992-93
, with sixteen goals.
In the summer of 1993, Burnley
and Jimmy Mullen (Eyres' former manager at Blackpool) came in for his services with an offer of £90,000. "I know the fans won't forgive me," said Eyres nine years later, "but things had gone a bit stale at Blackpool and I decided it was the right time to go." Eyres remained at Turf Moor
for seven years, and then continued his tour of Lancashire by signing for Blackpool's arch-rivals Preston North End in 1997 for £80,000.
Eyres moved to Oldham
in 2000 on a free transfer and signed a one-year extension to his contract the following January, which would keep him at the club until June 2002. He subsequently signed two more contracts, which tied him to the club until 2006.
During the 2003-04 season, Eyres and teammate John Sheridan
took on joint caretaker-manager
roles after Iain Dowie
's departure from the Latics hotseat. Earlier in the season, Eyres fractured a bone in his foot, which put him out of action between October and December.
Eyres, who was voted Oldham fans' player of the season in 2001-02, scored in his 234th and final appearance for Oldham in a 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe
to close out the 2005/6 season and his 18-year professional career at the age of 42. He then joined Conference North
side Hyde United in August 2006, but left the club by mutual consent two months later. On 13 October 2006, Eyres signed for Northern Premier League
side Mossley
.
In May 2007, Eyres made a return to Burnley to play at Turf Moor in the testimonial of another ex-Claret, Graham Branch
.
After leaving Mossley
, Eyres joined the Everton
academy in a bid to stay fit, even at 43 years old.
In January 2008 Eyres signed for Northern Premier League club Hednesford Town
. He made his debut at left-back in an away game at Eastwood Town
, but only made two further appearances for the Pitmen before his registration was cancelled by the club
Burnley
Preston North End
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
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.
Career
A relative latecomer to the professional game, Eyres began his career at WelshWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
non-league side Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
before signing, in 1989 at the age of 25, professional terms with Blackpool
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...
for a fee of £10,000. He made his debut for the club on 22 August 1989, in a 2-2 draw 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...
in the 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...
first round, first leg. He scored his first goal for the club three months later, on 11 November, in a 4-0 League victory over Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in 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...
. He spent four seasons with the Seasiders, two of which ended with appearances at Wembley in the play-off finals (achieving promotion in 1991-92
Blackpool F.C. season 1991-92
The 1991-92 season was Blackpool F.C.s 85th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Four, then the fourth tier of English football...
). He also finished as the club's top league goalscorer in 1992-93
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
, with sixteen goals.
In the summer of 1993, 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...
and Jimmy Mullen (Eyres' former manager at Blackpool) came in for his services with an offer of £90,000. "I know the fans won't forgive me," said Eyres nine years later, "but things had gone a bit stale at Blackpool and I decided it was the right time to go." Eyres remained at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
for seven years, and then continued his tour of Lancashire by signing for Blackpool's arch-rivals Preston North End in 1997 for £80,000.
Eyres moved to Oldham
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in 2000 on a free transfer and signed a one-year extension to his contract the following January, which would keep him at the club until June 2002. He subsequently signed two more contracts, which tied him to the club until 2006.
During the 2003-04 season, Eyres and teammate John Sheridan
John Sheridan (football)
John Joseph Sheridan is a former English-born Republic of Ireland international footballer, currently manager of League One side Chesterfield. He is also the brother of Barrow manager and former footballer Darren Sheridan....
took on joint caretaker-manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
roles after Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
's departure from the Latics hotseat. Earlier in the season, Eyres fractured a bone in his foot, which put him out of action between October and December.
Eyres, who was voted Oldham fans' player of the season in 2001-02, scored in his 234th and final appearance for Oldham in a 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
to close out the 2005/6 season and his 18-year professional career at the age of 42. He then joined Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Hyde United in August 2006, but left the club by mutual consent two months later. On 13 October 2006, Eyres signed for Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
side Mossley
Mossley A.F.C.
Mossley Association Football Club are an English football club from the town of Mossley, Greater Manchester, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They were founded in 1903 and are nicknamed the Lilywhites, owing to their colours...
.
In May 2007, Eyres made a return to Burnley to play at Turf Moor in the testimonial of another ex-Claret, Graham Branch
Graham Branch
Graham Branch, is a retired footballer who played the majority of his career for English Championship side Burnley.-Playing career:...
.
After leaving Mossley
Mossley A.F.C.
Mossley Association Football Club are an English football club from the town of Mossley, Greater Manchester, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They were founded in 1903 and are nicknamed the Lilywhites, owing to their colours...
, Eyres joined the 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...
academy in a bid to stay fit, even at 43 years old.
In January 2008 Eyres signed for Northern Premier League club Hednesford Town
Hednesford Town F.C.
Hednesford Town Football Club are an association football team based in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. They play at Keys Park.-History:...
. He made his debut at left-back in an away game at Eastwood Town
Eastwood Town F.C.
Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...
, but only made two further appearances for the Pitmen before his registration was cancelled by the club
Honours
Blackpool- Division FourFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
play-off winner: 1991-92
Burnley
- Division TwoFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
play-off winner: 1993-941993-94 in English footballThe 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
Preston North End
- Division TwoFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
champions: 1999-001999-2000 in English football-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...