David Bridges


David Stephen Bridges is an English former professional footballer. He is head of coaching at League Two club Lincoln City.
Bridges started his career with local side Cambridge United, progressing through the club's youth system and eventually breaking into the first-team in 2001. He spent three seasons at Cambridge, but was released at the end of the 2003–04 season after failing to agree terms on a new contract. Bridges had a brief spell in Latvia playing for FK Rīga, before returning to England to play four games for Braintree Town in January 2005. He joined Histon in March 2005, playing for the club until the end of the season. He left Histon at the end of the season, and subsequently earned himself a one-year contract to rejoin Cambridge United in July 2005. He played regularly for the club for two seasons, but was released again in 2007.
Bridges then joined Kettering Town ahead of the 2007–08 season, helping the club achieve promotion from the Conference North to the Conference Premier in his first season at the club. At the end of the season he rejected a contract offer from Kettering and joined Stevenage on a free transfer. In his first season at the Hertfordshire club, he helped the side to FA Trophy success, as well as helping the club earn promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history the following season. He was also part of the squad that helped Stevenage earn back-to-back promotions during the 2010–11 season. Ahead of the 2011–12 campaign, Bridges re-joined Conference Premier side Kettering Town. He left the club after one season, and spent a year at Chelmsford City, before signing for Bury Town in May 2013. He had a brief spell at Brackley Town, before spending two seasons combining playing and coaching at King's Lynn Town.
He initially announced his retirement from playing in May 2016 and joined St Neots Town as first-team coach a year later, where he began playing again for the 2017–18 season. He left St Neots Town in August 2018, taking up the position of head of coaching at League Two club Lincoln City. Bridges also earned one cap for the England C team, playing in a game against Italy C in January 2006.

Club career

Cambridge United

Born in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, Bridges began his career with local side Cambridge United, whom he joined at the age of 8, he progressed through the club's youth system before signing his first professional contract in February 2002. He broke into the first-team towards the end of the 2001–02 season, making his debut as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat against Huddersfield Town at the Abbey Stadium. He played six further games in the same season, scoring his first goal for Cambridge in a 2–1 home win against Tranmere Rovers. Bridges featured regularly in the opening half of the 2002–03 season, playing a total of 25 times and scoring once in a 3–0 victory against York City. However, a "persistent" ankle injury cut his run in the first-team short, and he did not feature from February onwards. He returned to first-team action in a 1–0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in October 2003, and played a further 22 times for the club throughout the 2003–04 campaign. However, Bridges left Cambridge at the end of the season after failing to agree a contract extension. On leaving Cambridge, Bridges said "I was offered a contract that was almost a kick in the teeth after the time I had been at the club when players were coming in from all over the place who did not care about the club. They were getting paid five or six times what I was offered, and I thought it was probably time to move on". During his three seasons with the club, Bridges made a total of 55 appearances in all competitions, scoring four times.

Journeyman

Bridges trialled at a number of clubs before the start of the 2004–05 season, most notably Chesterfield and Northampton Town, without successfully securing a deal. He also spent the majority of the close season in America training with two professional American football clubs, before realising it was not financially viable to move to America on a permanent basis. Bridges struggled to find a club ahead of the 2004–05 campaign, and took up an offer to play for FK Rīga in Latvia. However, Bridges suffered a fractured foot just ten days after signing for the club, and failed to feature for the Latvian side. Despite the injury, he spent three months in Latvia before returning to England to "assess his options". After returning to England in November 2004 for rehabilitation at Lilleshall, he began part-time training with Cambridgeshire side Histon in January 2005. However, he signed for Braintree Town on a short-term contract shortly after training with Histon, making his debut for the club in a 2–1 home victory against Slough Town a day after joining the club. In the following game, Bridges assisted two of Braintree's goals in the club's 4–2 win away at Wealdstone, as well as making another assist a week later in a 5–0 win against Billericay Town. He played in the club's next league fixture, a 3–1 away win at Hendon, but was taken off at half-time after suffering another foot injury. It proved to be his last game for the club, he played four times for Braintree, all of which were victories. A month later, Bridges joined Histon on a short-term basis, making his debut for the club in March 2005 – playing the whole match in a 3–1 home win against Tiverton Town. He scored once for Histon in a 3–0 home win against Solihull Borough. Bridges made eleven appearances for Histon and helped the club achieve promotion to the Conference South in his two months at the club. He left Histon at the end of the season, and subsequently earned himself a one-year contract to re-join his former employers, Cambridge United, following a successful trial at the club. Bridges said he "did not hesitate in joining Cambridge for a second time" when he was eventually offered a full-time contract in June 2005.

Return to Cambridge

During the 2005–06 season, Bridges was a regular in the centre of Cambridge's midfield. He made his second debut for Cambridge in a 1–0 defeat at Forest Green Rovers, and scored in the following two games against both Hereford United and Accrington Stanley respectively. He also scored in the club's 3–0 win in the Football League Trophy against Chester City, scoring the first goal of the game. Bridges scored the only goal of the game as Cambridge secured their first away victory of the season in November 2005 – winning 1–0 against Morecambe at Christie Park. His fifth goal of the campaign came in Cambridge's 4–2 away defeat to Macclesfield Town in the Football League Trophy, before scoring a "glancing header" in the next game as Cambridge beat Stevenage 1–0 at the Abbey Stadium. His last goal of the season came in February 2006 in a 2–1 defeat to Altrincham. Bridges played 40 times during the season, scoring seven goals from midfield. Consequently, he won the 'Player of the Season' award at Cambridge in the same season, and more importantly earned a one-year contract extension in May 2006. He continued playing regularly under new manager Jimmy Quinn in the 2006–07 season. He scored his first goal of the season in a 3–0 home win against Gravesend & Northfleet in November 2006, and scored again two weeks later in the club's 2–1 away win at Southport at Haig Avenue. However, after Cambridge's 2–0 home defeat to St Albans City in December, Bridges did not feature in the first–team for two months. He returned to first-team action in Cambridge's 3–0 win against Woking, and scored his third of the campaign in a 2–1 away victory against Stafford Rangers. He played 31 games during the season, scoring three times – playing his last game for the club in a 1–0 home win against Tamworth. He was released by Quinn in May 2007 as he revamped the entire squad. During his second spell at Cambridge, Bridges made 71 appearances in all competitions over two seasons, scoring ten times.

Kettering Town

Two months later, Bridges joined Conference North side Kettering Town on a one-year deal. Bridges made his debut for Kettering in late August 2007, starting in the club's 3–2 away win against Worcester City. He scored his first goal for the club in the following game, scoring in the 60th minute to double Kettering's lead in a victory against Tamworth, and followed this up with another goal in the club's 4–1 win against Leigh RMI. Bridges made it four goals in as many games by scoring against both Boston United and Workington respectively. However, he suffered an injury in Kettering's 2–0 home loss to Hyde United in October 2007, ruling him out for two months. He returned to first-team action in December, coming on as a second-half substitute in the club's 3–2 loss against Cambridge City, and scored twice the following week in Kettering's 3–0 home win against Leigh RMI. He started 2008 by scoring Kettering's fifth in a 6–1 victory against Solihull Moors, as well as scoring in the next game – heading in Kettering's second in a 3–1 win against Harrogate Town. Bridges scored his ninth goal of the campaign shortly after, doubling the club's lead in a 2–0 away win at Hucknall Town. Bridges featured regularly during the club's second half of the season, getting on the scoresheet in a 3–0 away victory at Hyde United, before scoring Kettering's third in another 3–0 win, this time against AFC Telford United – his last appearance for the club. He was instrumental for the Northamptonshire club throughout Kettering's 2007–08 league campaign, scoring 11 goals in 27 appearances to help guide Kettering to promotion to the Conference Premier.

Stevenage

He was offered a new contract by manager Mark Cooper, which was rejected, as he opted to join Craig Westcarr and Gary Mills at Stevenage. However, Bridges suffered a knee injury during pre-season and subsequently missed the first half of the 2008–09 season. He eventually made his debut for the Hertfordshire club in a 1–1 draw against Oxford United in December 2008, scoring Stevenage's goal with an "unstoppable drive from outside the area". In the following match, Bridges set up two of Stevenage's goals in the club's 3–1 home win against Rushden & Diamonds, as well as hitting the crossbar with a "looping header" in the second-half. Two days later, he won Stevenage's penalty in the 93rd minute against one of his former employers, Cambridge United, as Stevenage salvaged a 1–1 draw at the Abbey Stadium. Bridges' return to the first–team coincided with an upturn in form for the club, and he continued his goalscoring form from midfield with another goal in a 3–0 home win against Barrow in January 2009. He also scored three goals in the club's successful FA Trophy campaign, scoring in 4–0 victories against both Burton Albion and Forest Green Rovers, as well as scoring the winner in Stevenage's 3–2 home win against Ebbsfleet United in the first leg of the semi–final. However, his season was cut short when he suffered an injury in a 1–1 draw against Oxford United at Broadhall Way, a game in which he scored Stevenage's goal, but ultimately missed the rest of the season. In total, Bridges made 19 appearances during the club's 2008–09 campaign, scoring six times.
Bridges returned from injury at the start of the 2009–10 season, starting in a 0–0 draw against Barrow at Holker Street. However, he sustained an injury shortly after the match and did not feature again until October 2009, starting in a 1–1 draw away at Kettering Town. He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0 win over Ebbsfleet United, and followed this up by scoring twice against Vauxhall Motors in the FA Trophy. The following month, Bridges scored the winner in a 1–0 victory away at Wrexham. He followed this up with another headed goal the following week in a 6–0 victory away at Eastbourne Borough. Bridges scored a further two goals for Stevenage in the club's 5–1 victory over Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough in the FA Trophy. He also provided two assists for Yemi Odubade's brace in Stevenage's 3–0 win against Crawley Town in March 2010. He scored his eighth goal of the club's 2009–10 campaign in a 1–0 win over York City as Stevenage finished the Conference Premier as league champions. Bridges played a total of 38 times during the season, scoring eight goals from midfield.
Bridges missed the first three games of the 2010–11 season as a result of the red card he received in the FA Trophy Final. He made his first appearance of the 2010–11 campaign in Stevenage's 1–1 draw away to Aldershot Town, coming on as a 38th-minute substitute. However, shortly after he suffered an ankle injury in training that ruled him out of first-team action for a month. He returned to the first-team as a second-half substitute in Stevenage's 2–0 home loss to Wycombe Wanderers, but admitted he was "not fully fit". The following week, Bridges played a key role in Stevenage's 1–1 draw with Rotherham United, assisting John Mousinho's goal in the 82nd minute. He scored his only goal of the 2010–11 season in Stevenage's 3–1 away win at Port Vale on 22 February 2011, scoring Stevenage's third goal. Bridges played 24 games in all competitions, helping Stevenage earn promotion to League One in their first Football League season.

Return to non-league

Bridges re-joined Conference Premier club Kettering Town on 1 August 2011, signing a two-year deal with the club. He joined Kettering on a free transfer, having been out of contract at Stevenage — "I got injured at the back end of last season and I was out of contract and because of all the deals that needed to be sorted at Stevenage, I wasn't a priority and I had to wait. There comes a time when you can't wait any longer and I needed to sort my future out so here we are". Bridges made his Kettering Town debut in a 2–0 away win at Lincoln City on 10 September 2011, the club's first away victory of the season. After making just five appearances for Kettering, Bridges was transfer-listed by new manager Mark Stimson on 29 September. Despite being transfer-listed due to Kettering's financial problems, Bridges continued to play in the first-team, and he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Ebbsfleet United, scoring from close range to give the club an initial one-goal lead. Bridges scored once again in a 2–1 home defeat to Grimsby Town on 26 November 2011, scoring in injury-time to half the deficit. Bridges was forced to take training following the departure of Stimson, with only six other Kettering players turning up to train due to unpaid wages. Despite the off-field problems, he remained ever-present for the remainder of the season, playing 38 times in all competitions, and scoring his third and final goal of the campaign in a 1–1 home draw with Barrow in April 2012. Kettering were relegated, finishing bottom of the league, and faced a further relegation due to entering a Company Voluntary Arrangement. Bridges had one year remaining on his contract at Kettering, but left in July 2012, calling the campaign the "worst of his career".
In August 2012, Bridges signed for Conference South side Chelmsford City on a free transfer. He made his debut for the club in a 3–2 home win over Bromley on 25 August. Bridges scored his first goal for Chelmsford in the club's 2–2 draw with East Thurrock United in the FA Cup in October 2012, sweeping the ball through a crowded penalty area after East Thurrock had failed to clear a corner. It took Bridges seven months to open his goalscoring account for the league season, netting on the hour mark in a 6–0 home victory over Farnborough on 18 March 2013, a game in which he also assisted two other goals. It proved to be his only league goal of the campaign, in a season where Chelmsford would once again make the Conference South play-offs, but ultimately fall short. They lost 2–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals to Salisbury City, with Bridges playing in both games. He made 36 appearances in all competitions during the season, scoring two goals.
Shortly after the end of the 2012–13 season, Bridges signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Bury Town on a free transfer. On joining Bury Town, Bridges said — "I'm good friends with Adam Tann and Craig Parker and they couldn't say enough good things about the club. They told me that the players are really well looked after and the club is full of good honest people". He left Bury Town in December 2013 due to the club's financial problems, and subsequently joined Brackley Town of the National League North in January 2014. Bridges made his debut for Brackley on 11 January 2014, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute in a 3–1 victory over Gainsborough Trinity. He made 15 appearances during the second half of the 2013–14 season whilst at Brackley, scoring two goals – both of his goals coming within the space of a week at the end of March 2014, in games against Altrincham and Workington respectively.
Bridges left Brackley in the summer and signed for Northern Premier League side King's Lynn Town in May 2014. On securing the signing of Bridges for the season, manager Gary Setchell stated "I'm probably very, very fortunate I've stumbled across Bridgo when he's got a lot going on outside of football, business wise". Whilst out injured, and having already obtained his UEFA 'B' coaching badge, Bridges was made first-team coach at the club in February 2015. He combined the role alongside continuing to play in the first-team. King's Lynn were moved into the Southern League Premier Division for the 2015–16 campaign and Bridges continued to feature regularly in the Linnets midfield during the campaign, making 39 appearances in all competitions. Bridges retired from playing in May 2016 to "concentrate on his successful business ventures and spend time with his family". On his retirement, manager Setchell said "David will be missed by a lot of people at the football club but I totally understand his decision to call it a day on his fantastic playing career and pursue his business interests and spend more time with his young family."
Having been retired from playing for over a year, Bridges appeared for St Neots Town of the Southern League Premier Division, the club he is also first-team coach, in a 1–0 away loss against AFC Rushden & Diamonds in a Southern Combination Challenge Cup match on 3 October 2017. He ended up playing 25 times during the 2017–18 season, his final season playing, scoring five goals, including two in his final appearance as St Neots won the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup.

International career

Bridges was named in the England C team, who represent England at non-League level, in January 2006, for a friendly against Italy C, staged at Cambridge's Abbey Stadium, his home ground at the time. He came on as a 73rd-minute substitute as England C won the match 3–1 in front of a crowd of 2,711.

Style of play

Bridges is generally deployed as a central midfielder, and played there since turning professional. He also plays across all of the midfield areas. Manager Graham Westley said that Bridges is a player with "a lot of off-the-ball intelligence" and that he "reads the game well".

Coaching career

Bridges gained experience coaching whilst playing at Kettering Town, taking training sessions in January 2012 in the absence of a first-team manager. He gained his UEFA 'B' coaching badge whilst playing at King's Lynn Town and became the club's first-team coach in February 2015, staying in the role for a year-and-a-half whilst also playing.
In May 2017, he took up his first coaching-only role when he joined St Neots Town of the Southern League Premier Division as first-team coach. Bridges left St Neots in order to become head of coaching at League Two club Lincoln City on 13 August 2018.

Personal life

Bridges grew up in Cambridgeshire, and attended St Peter's School in Huntingdon. He supports Manchester United.

Career statistics

International

Honours

Histon
  • Southern Premier League: 2004–05
Kettering Town
Stevenage
  • FA Trophy: 2008–09; runner-up: 2009–10
  • Conference Premier: 2009–10
  • League Two play-offs: 2010–11
St Neots Town
  • Huntingdonshire Senior Cup: 2017–18