Biography
Centre half David Hume Melville was born in the Langside district of Glasgow south of the River Clyde but during his childhood moved to Neilston near Barrhead, a town south west of Glasgow. He played local junior football for Barrhead Gowanlea, Pollok Juniors and Neilston Victoria while working as a polisher in a calico print factory. In September 1910 he signed for Arthurlie, a Barrhead-based Scottish Second Division side where Melville spent nearly four seasons before joining the Tigers in February 1914. Primarily a centre half, Melville had three starts in that position in March and April 1914 then had two further starts on the right wing of City’s attack. David remained with the Tigers for much of the 1914/15 season but was not called upon again to join the first team. He left the club in February 1915.
Melville joined Clyde in February 1915 but his time at Shawfield Park was short lived and featured only 8 appearances, as he had already signed up to join the Army. He served the military throughout World War One, spending two years in India as he rose to become a sergeant in the Army, then had a short spell in 1918 serving the Royal Air Force.
When professional football leagues returned to Scotland in August 1919 Melville joined Renton, former Scottish League giants that had since fallen on hard times. In October 1919 he switched to Scottish First Division strugglers Albion Rovers and completed the 1919/20 season at the Coatbridge side. In August 1920 Melville, now occasionally given the first name Danny rather than David, joined Scottish Western League side Vale of Leven before his career drew to a close in late 1920.
Later in life he headed south to the English Home Counties and by 1939 he was working as a fitter in Windsor. He died in Reading in February 1956.
Details
Nationality: Scotland
Date/Place of Birth: 24 April 1891, Glasgow
Hull City First Game: 14 March 1914, Stockport County A (Division Two), 22 years, 324 days old
Hull City Final Game: 13 April 1914, Bury H (Division Two), 22 years, 354 days old
Clubs
Barrhead Gowanlea (1908-1909), Pollok Juniors (1909), Neilston Victoria (1909-1910), Arthurlie (1910-1914), Hull City (1914-1915), Clyde (1915), Renton (1919), Albion Rovers (1919-1920), Vale of Leven (1920)
Hull City Record
Career: 5 apps, 0 goals
David Melville| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913/14 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1914/15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |