David Munks

David Munks

Personal information
Full name	David Munks
Date of birth	29 April 1947
Place of birth	Sheffield, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Defender
Youth career
1962–65	Sheffield United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1965–1969	Sheffield United	112	(1)
1969–1973	Portsmouth	137	(2)
1973–1974	Swindon	21	(0)
1974–1975	Exeter	20	(0)
National team
1965	England Youth	2
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

David Munks (born 29 April 1947) is a former English footballer whose career ran from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s. Born in Sheffield on 29 April 1947^[1] Munks won two England Youth caps^[2] whilst with his first club Sheffield United . The following month he broke into the first team for the first time during a tour of New Zealand.^[3] In all Munks was to make over 100 appearances for The Blades^[4] before moving to Portsmouth in the 1969 close season.^[5] He was to prove such a popular player on the south coast that in 1971 he was awarded the title of Pompey’s Player of the Year.^[6] Change, however, was afoot at Fratton Park with new chairman John Decon sanctioning the purchase of talented new defenders Paul Went and Malcolm Manley. Costs soon spiralled and Munks was one of the first of a cluster of players to leave^[7] to offset the huge new wage bills. In December 1973 he signed for a relegation threatened Swindon ^[8] but was used inexplicably as a midfielder. Not surprisingly this tactical experiment did not enhance a poor side and he was released at the end of the season when they were finally relegated. Initially loaned to Exeter in the summer of 1974 he signed for the Grecians on a permanent basis in December of that year. Sadly, however, his league career was ended with a knee injury the following year and in 1976 he left the game.^[9]

References

1. ”Rothmans Football Year Book,1970–71” Peskett,R/Williams,T: Harpenden, QAP,1970 ISBN 0-362-00071-9
2. He played in a 0–0 draw against Spain and a 3–0 victory over Belgium in April 1965 AFS DataBase
3. Early tour of NZ
4. "The PFA Premier League and Football League Players’ Records 1946–98” Hugman,B: Harpenden, Queen Anne Press, 1998 ISBN 1-85291-585-4
5. Pompey team photo
6. "Pompey: The History of Portsmouth Football Club" Cooper,M/ Neasom,M/ Robinson,D: Portsmouth, Milestone Publications, 1984 ISBN 0-903852-50-0
7. ”Portsmouth, from Tindall to Ball” Farmery, C: Southend-on-Sea, Desert Island Books, 1999 ISBN 1-874287-25-2
8. Playing record at club
9. Sad end to career