David Pugh (footballer)
Encyclopedia
David Pugh is a former professional footballer who mainly played as a winger for Chester City
and Bury
during the 1990s.
appearances over the next two years and was involved in FA Cup
scalps over Chester City
and Wrexham. In July 1989, Pugh was given his big break when Chester signed him for £35,000.
Pugh made his Football League debut on the opening day of the 1989–90
season against Mansfield Town
, with his first goal coming against Birmingham City
two months later. Pugh was a regular for the Blues in a variety of positions, it not being until the closing stages of the 1991–92
season that he began to make the left wing slot his own. Two years later he finished as the club’s top league scorer with 12 strikes as Chester won promotion from Division Three 12 months after being relegated. Pugh scored in the promotion clincher against Hereford United
on 23 April 1994, the day before the birth of his daughter
.
This marked the end of Pugh’s Chester career, as he opted to stay in Division Three by joining Bury
in the summer of 1994. Pugh became captain of the Shakers and was a near ever-present in his first two seasons at Gigg Lane, the latter ending in promotion from Division Three. He also managed double figures twice and played at Wembley Stadium
in the play-off final in May 1995 against Chesterfield
.
Bury then defied expectations by winning the Division Two
championship in 1996–97
under Stan Ternent
, but Pugh's season was badly hit by injuries
.
Further injuries meant Pugh did not appear between December and the final day of the season when he collected the championship trophy. Pugh was in the starting line-up for the club’s opening day game the following season against Reading
, but he was substituted with a knee injury and did not play again. At the end of the season Pugh announced his retirement having failed to recover from the injuries.
Pugh then moved into coaching youngsters, having had spells at Liverpool
and Manchester United
. Dave now also coveres matches for the Press Association.
• Football League Division Three runners-up: 1993–94
.
Bury
• Football League Division Two champions: 1996–97
.
• Football League Division Three promotion as third place team: 1995–96
.
• Football League Division Three play-off finalists: 1994–95
.
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...
and Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
during the 1990s.
Playing career
Pugh made his name with Runcorn, who he joined when he was 22 from Liverpool-based amateur side Zodiac FC in 1987. Pugh made more than 50 Football ConferenceFootball Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
appearances over the next two years and was involved in 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...
scalps over 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...
and Wrexham. In July 1989, Pugh was given his big break when Chester signed him for £35,000.
Pugh made his Football League debut on the opening day of the 1989–90
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
season against 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...
, with his first goal coming against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
two months later. Pugh was a regular for the Blues in a variety of positions, it not being until the closing stages of the 1991–92
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
season that he began to make the left wing slot his own. Two years later he finished as the club’s top league scorer with 12 strikes as Chester won promotion from Division Three 12 months after being relegated. Pugh scored in the promotion clincher 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',...
on 23 April 1994, the day before the birth of his daughter
.
This marked the end of Pugh’s Chester career, as he opted to stay in Division Three by joining Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in the summer of 1994. Pugh became captain of the Shakers and was a near ever-present in his first two seasons at Gigg Lane, the latter ending in promotion from Division Three. He also managed double figures twice and played at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in the play-off final in May 1995 against 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...
.
Bury then defied expectations by winning the Division Two
Division Two
Division Two may refer to either:* Football League Two the current fourth tier of the English football league system* The Football League Second Division, the former second and later third tier of the English football league system...
championship in 1996–97
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
under Stan Ternent
Stan Ternent
Francis Stanley "Stan" Ternent is an English former footballer and manager. He managed Blackpool, Hull City, Bury, Burnley, Gillingham and Huddersfield Town. He is currently a scout for Sunderland.-Career:...
, but Pugh's season was badly hit by injuries
.
Further injuries meant Pugh did not appear between December and the final day of the season when he collected the championship trophy. Pugh was in the starting line-up for the club’s opening day game the following season 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...
, but he was substituted with a knee injury and did not play again. At the end of the season Pugh announced his retirement having failed to recover from the injuries.
Pugh then moved into coaching youngsters, having had spells at Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. Dave now also coveres matches for the Press Association.
Honours
Chester City• Football League Division Three runners-up: 1993–94
1993-94 in English football
The 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...
.
Bury
• Football League Division Two champions: 1996–97
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
.
• Football League Division Three promotion as third place team: 1995–96
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
.
• Football League Division Three play-off finalists: 1994–95
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
.