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 fetured 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 sargeant in the Army, then had a short spell in 1918 serving the Royal Air Force. By 1919 he was playing for Scottish League side Renton and he had spells at Albion Rovers and Vale of Leven before his career seemed to draw to a close in late 1920. Later in life he headed south to the 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, 263 days old
Hull City Final Game: 13 April 1914, Bury H (Division Two), 22 years, 293 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 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |