Biography

Tall left sided centre back David Brightwell was Hull City manager Brian Little’s first signing in June 2000. Brightwell was not blessed with pace but was a commanding presence at the back and took a powerful free kick. He was quickly introduced to the first team ahead of Jamaican centre back Ian Goodison and remained in the first team until the end of January 2001, wearing the captain’s arm band after he found his first team feet. He scored two goals for the Tigers, a September 2000 equaliser at Mansfield Town and a December 2000 winner at local rivals Scunthorpe United, driving home a free kick from the edge of the Glanford Park penalty box. In early February 2001 the Tigers’ financial situation hit rock bottom with players left unpaid and the choice of terminating contracts was offered to the entire squad. While many stayed and piloted the Tigers into the play-offs, Brightwell was one of several players to cut his losses and move on.
David John Brightwell was born in Lutterworth in Leicestershire to parents famous in the world of middle distance running – Anne Packer, who won a gold medal at 800 metres in the 1964 Olympics and Robbie Brightwell, a 400 metre runner who won a relay silver at the same Olympics in Tokyo. Brightwell came through the footballing ranks at Manchester City alongside his older brother Ian Brightwell – while Ian stayed with the Sky Blues for twelve years and made over 350 appearances for the Citizens, David was a more peripheral figure at Maine Road. He made his debut for Manchester City in February 1992 when introduced as substitute in a Division One match against Wimbledon, by which time he had already had a spell on loan at Chester City during March and April 1991 where he made 6 senior appearances. David’s most productive season at Manchester City came in the 1993/94 season when he made 24 first team appearances mostly at left back and scored his only League goal for the club in April 1994 against Newcastle United. By September 1995 he had drifted out of the first team scene having made 53 appearances for Manchester City and scored two goals. He began the 1995/96 season with two loan spells – firstly he spent August 1995 at League Division 3 side Lincoln City, making 7 appearances, then spent September and October at League Division 1 side Stoke City where he made just 2 appearances.
In December 1995 Brightwell joined League Division 2 side Bradford City, initially on loan then permanently a few days later. The Bantams won the 1996 League Division 2 play-offs, Brightwell made 23 appearances during the regular season then played in both play-off semi-finals but missed the Final at Wembley as Bradford City beat Notts County 2-0. He was used sparingly in League Division 1 during early part of the 1996/97 season and had a loan spell at Blackpool during December 1996, making two appearances, before leaving Bradford in the 1997 close season having made 27 senior appearances.
Brightwell joined League Division 2 rivals Northampton Town in July 1997, he made 45 appearances and scored once for the Cobblers in the 1997/98 season before joining Carlisle United in July 1998. David made 87 appearances for the Cumbrians in two seasons, scoring four goals including a long distance equalising free kick against Plymouth in May 1999 that set up goalkeeper Jimmy Glass’s famous winner during injury time, which secured Carlisle’s Football League survival. He left Carlisle in June 2000 to join Hull City.
Brightwell joined Darlington in February 2001 and in a season and a half he made 42 senior appearances before retiring at the end of the 2001/02 season. After hanging up his boots Brightwell had a second career in the Cheshire Fire Service.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 7 January 1971, Lutterworth
Hull City First Game: 19 August 2000, Plymouth Argyle H (League Division 3), 29 years, 225 days old
Hull City Final Game: 10 February 2001, Leyton Orient H (League Division 3), 30 years, 34 days old
Clubs
Manchester City (1988-1995), Chester City (1991, loan), Lincoln City (1995, loan), Stoke City (1995, loan), Bradford City (1995, loan), Bradford City (1995-1997), Blackpool (1996-1997, loan), Northampton Town (1997-1998), Carlisle United (1998-2000), Hull City (2000-2001), Darlington (2001-2002)
Hull City Record
Career: 32 apps, 2 goals
David BrightwellSeason | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000/01 | 24 (3) | 2 | 2 (0) | 0 | 2 (0) | 0 | – | – | 1 (0) | 0 |