David Russell (footballer)


David Russell, known as Dave Russell, was born in Beith, Scotland, in 1862. First signed for Scottish club, Stewart Cunnington in 1882. It isn't precisely recorded when he left, and joined Preston North End but it was before 1886.
Centre–half David Russell joined Preston North End in their pre–League days and soon gained a reputation as a strong–tackling defender. He was certainly not a player to cross, as he showed in the match against Blackburn Olympic in 1886. Russell chased an opponent down the pitch and kicked him in the back. He was the club's first–choice centre–half when the first Football league season got underway.
Dave Russell, playing at centre–half, made his League debut on 22 September 1888 at Deepdale in a match against Bolton Wanderers. The home team defeated the visitors 3–1. Dave Russell appeared in 18 of the 22 League matches played by Preston North End in season 1888–89. Dave Russell, playing at centre–half, played in a Preston North End defence that kept 12 clean–sheets and restricted the opposition to one–goal–in–a–match on three separate occasions. He also played in all the FA Cup ties, scoring in the semi–final and achieved a winners medal playing in the Final which Preston North End won 3–0 over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Dave Russell played in all but one of the games the following season as Preston North End retained their title and then informed the management team that he no longer wished to play for the club and moved on to Nottingham Forest. Russell made 46 appearances in his two seasons at Preston scoring five goals. Russell spent two seasons as Nottingham Forest and then moved North to Ardwick. Russell played one season at Ardwick making 19 appearances, scoring three goals.
Russell played for Notts County in season 1895–96 for one season playing nine times. Russell's appearances for Ardwick and Notts County were in Division Two.
He died in Stewarton, East Ayrshire in March 1918.