555 Dave Sunley

Biography

Striker Dave Sunley joined the Tigers in January 1976, bringing a reputation for skilful forward play earned over several seasons at Sheffield Wednesday. He slotted straight into the first team and scored his debut goal in February 1976 against Notts County. In the 1976/77 season Sunley was a first team regular throughout as John Kaye’s mid-table side sported a sound defence but at times struggled to score goals. Dave started the 1977/78 season in the first team but results were not good – when Kaye was dismissed in early October Sunley’s appearances became more sporadic and he left the club in the 1978 close season.

David Sunley was born and raised in Skelton, an ironstone mining town in East Cleveland to the east of Middlesbrough, he attracted the attention of several clubs in the schoolboy playing days. He signed apprentice terms at Sheffield Wednesday in July 1968 and joined the Owls’ professional ranks two years later, showing his fiery side in November 1969 when banned for four weeks by the FA after an incident in a central League match against Huddersfield Town.

Sunley made his first team debut for the Owls in December 1970, when he led the forward line against Birmingham City. In his second appearance a fortnight later he played on the wing in a Boxing Day 1970 match against Hull City that saw the Tigers make a thrilling comeback from 4-1 down, scoring three goals in the last seven minutes to secure a point. His third appearance in January 1971 saw him score his first senior goal in an FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur. He retained a first team berth for the second half of the 1970/71 season, a considerable achievement at Division Two level for an 18 and 19 year old. His last match of the season in April 1971, which saw him score against Birmingham City, came days after he and five team mates were charged with disorderly behaviour during a Saturday night stag do – he was fined £7 for damaging a flower bed.

Injury hampered his preparations for the 1971/72 season and he spent the first few months playing for the Sheffield Wednesday Reserves, he returned to first team action on New Years Day 1972 and was part of the first team for the rest of the season. For the next two seasons Sunley remained a first team regular, with the 1972/73 season proving his most productive as he netted twelve goals including strikes in both matches against Hull City. This form was rewarded by Sir Alf Ramsey in April 1973 who selected Sunley for an FA XI tour of Gibraltar – Dave scored in a 9-0 thumping as he lined up alongside Gordon Banks, Trevor Francis, Nobby Stiles and Frank Worthington. He attracted the attention of several top flight clubs but a move never transpired, the reputed £90,000 sale price set by Sheffield Wednesday was no doubt a factor. During the 1974/75 season the Owls struggled for form and Sunley was a less regular presence in the side after a dispute with the club and a subsequent FA tribunal limited his game time – Wednesday slumped to relegation that season and Sunley’s goal contributions were limited to two goals both scored in a 4-4 draw against Manchester United. Now in Division Three, Sunley remained unsettled – an October 1975 loan move to Division Two side Nottingham Forest yielded just 1 appearance, when he returned to Hillsborough he had a two month spell in the first team that yielded FA Cup goals against Wigan Athletic and Charlton Athletic. His final appearance for Sheffield Wednesday, in January 1976 against Swindon Town, took his tally to 26 goals in 145 appearances, he moved to Hull City

Sunley joined Division Three side Lincoln City in June 1978, he made his Imps debut against Bradford City in August 1978 but between October 1978 and March 1979 he missed four months of the season to injury as Lincoln slid to relegation. Now in Division Four, just five years after he was regarded as one of English football’s hottest transfer properties, Sunley was a first team choice for the Imps in the first three months of the season before dropping out of the first team picture – he scored six goals in 44 appearances for Lincoln City. In March 1980 Sunley switched to Division Four rivals Stockport County, he missed only one league game during the 1980/81 season and was also a regular during the 1981/82 season. His final appearance for Stockport against Northampton Town in April 1982 – also his final Football League appearance – took his Hatters tally to ten goals in 91 appearances.

In May 1982 Sunley tried his hand at overseas football, signing for Hong Kong side Tsun Wan, but this move was short-lived and he returned to England. In August 1982 Sunley joined Northern Premier League side Burton Albion, a team managed by rookie player-manager Neil Warnock. He scored twice on his Brewers’ league debut against King’s Lynn before a trial at Doncaster Rovers lured him away – that trial came to nothing and Sunley spent the rest of the 1982/83 season without a club. In July 1983 signed for Northern Premier League side Stafford Rangers but within a couple of weeks he had returned to Burton Albion and stayed for the 1983/84 season. In August 1984 Dave had a trial at Northern Premier League side Matlock Town but he soon moved on to Sheffield FC where he spent two seasons before drifting out of the game. He remained in the Sheffield area, living in Dronfield where he grew and sold daffodils.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 6 February 1952, Skelton-in-Cleveland
Hull City First Game: 31 January 1976, Blackpool A (Division Two), 23 years, 359 days old
Hull City Final Game: 15 April 1978, Fulham H (Division Two), 26 years, 68 days old

Clubs

Sheffield Wednesday (1968-1976), Nottingham Forest (1975, loan), Hull City (1976-1978), Lincoln City (1978-1980), Stockport County (1980-1982), Tsun Wan (1982), Burton Albion (1982), Stafford Rangers (1983), Burton Albion (1983-1984), Sheffield FC (1984-1986)

Hull City Record

Career: 83 apps, 11 goals