David McNiven (footballer, born 1978)

David McNiven

McNiven with Hyde in 2012
Personal information
Full name	David Jonathan McNiven
Date of birth	27 May 1978
Place of birth	Leeds, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current team	Hyde (player/sports scientist)
Number	19
Youth career
	Y.M.C.A. Juniors
1992–1995	Oldham Athletic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1995–2000	Oldham Athletic	21	(2)
1997	→ Vasalunds (loan)	?	(?)
2000	→ Scarborough (loan)	5	(2)
2000	Southport	12	(1)
2000–2001	York City	41	(8)
2001	Chester City	3	(0)
2001–2002	Hamilton Academical	26	(6)
2002–2003	Northwich Victoria	23	(5)
2002–2003	→ Kidsgrove Athletic (loan)	?	(?)
2003–2004	Leigh RMI	41	(25)
2004–2006	Queen of the South	47	(14)
2006	Scarborough	18	(6)
2006–2007	Morecambe	27	(3)
2007	→ Stafford Rangers (loan)	9	(9)
2007–2009	Stafford Rangers	23	(5)
2009–2010	Hyde	39	(12)
2010–2011	Droylsden	10	(4)
2011	Hyde	6	(1)
2011–2012	Workington	0	(0)
2012	Bradford Park Avenue	0	(0)
2012–	Hyde	3	(0)
National team^‡
2004	England C	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:32, 22 April 2013 (UTC). † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:55, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

David Jonathan McNiven (born 27 May 1978) is an English footballer. He plays as a striker for Hyde, where he is also a sports scientist. He is a well travelled player, he has predominantly played in England but has also played football in Scotland and Sweden.

Early life

Born in Leeds, McNiven was raised in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, where he played junior football for the Y.M.C.A. juniors alongside Gavin McCann who went on to play for Bolton Wanderers and John Hills who went on to play for Blackpool.

Club career

McNiven came through the ranks at Oldham Athletic alongside his brother Scott, but struggled to establish himself with the Latics. After loan spells with Scarborough and in Sweden. He eventually signed for Southport in the closing months of the 1999–2000 season. He joined York City in the summer of 2000, going on to spend just over a year with the Minstermen, and netting eight times. A month with Chester City followed, before he moved to Scotland to play for Hamilton Academical.

At the end of the season, McNiven was on the move yet again, this time back to England and Northwich Victoria. He played 23 times for the Vics, scoring five goals, but left at the conclusion of the 2002–03 season to join Leigh RMI. He came to prominence with the Railwaymen, scoring 25 goals in just 41 games before he took the chance to move back into the Scottish Football League with Queen of the South where he spent 18 months, scoring 14 goals.

McNiven spent the latter half of the 2005–06 season back with Scarborough. After they were relegated, he made the move to Lancashire, signing for Morecambe ahead of the 2006–07 season. Mainly used as a squad player, he scored his first goal for Morecambe against Woking in August 2006. On 31 January 2007 he moved from Morecambe to Stafford Rangers, initially on a month's loan,^[1] only to be recalled by Morecambe due to injury worries. He made a late substitute appearance for Morecambe in the 2006–07 Conference National play-off final win at Wembley Stadium against Exeter City.

McNiven agreed to join Halifax Town in August 2007, but later opted instead to rejoin Stafford Rangers.^[2] On 8 October 2008 he was due to join Fleetwood Town on a one-month loan deal,^[3] however injuries at Stafford Rangers meant he did not sign.^[4]

He left Stafford in the summer of 2009 to move closer to his Lancashire home,^[5] joining Hyde United, becoming one of a number of signings made by manager Neil Tolson ahead of the 2009–10 season.^[6] He finished the 2009–10 season with Hyde as the club top goalscorer with 13 goals in all competitions.^[7] In summer 2010 after just one season with Hyde, he joined their rivals Droylsden.^[8] In March 2011 he was released from the club along with Jody Banim and subsequently re-joined his brother's side Hyde.^[9]

After leaving Hyde, he joined Workington and then Bradford Park Avenue, before re-joining Hyde in August 2012 as a player, as well as a sports scientist.^[10]

International career

McNiven was called up to the England C national team in 2004 and appeared four times for them.

Personal life

McNiven's father (also called David) was also a professional footballer as is his twin brother, Scott, who plays for the same club.

References

1. Striker McNiven boosts Stafford
2. "McNiven decides to join Stafford". BBC Sport. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
3. "David McNiven arrives on loan". Fleetwood Town F.C. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
4. "Wolves legend to plot Town's downfall". Blackpool Gazette. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
5. "Millar hope but striker return a doubt". Express & Star. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
6. "Kids go free". Tameside Advertiser. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
7. "Hyde 2009/2010 Statistics (sorted by Total Goals)". hydefc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
8. "Six more arrive at Butchers Arms". Blue Square Bet. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
9. "New Signings". hydefc.co.uk. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
10. "New Signing". Hyde F.C. Retrieved 11 August 2012.

External links

• David McNiven career statistics at Soccerbase