971 David Meyler

Biography

Irish international midfielder Meyler proved to be a talismanic support player for several City managers, after Steve Bruce plucked him from Sunderland’s reserves in November 2012, initially on loan and then permanently from January 2013.  Tidy rather than flashy and always committed and effective, Meyler has an uncanny knack of being in the team when City won top flight matches and out of the team when they lost.  He contributed form and goals to City’s most prominent league and Cup successes during the 2010s and by the start of 2017/18 he was the longest standing senior professional at the club.  He ended his City career in May 2018 as he started it, a valuable squad player always able to play effectively and with versatility for the City cause.

A talented sportsmen in a number of fields, Meyler chose to not follow his father’s footsteps into hurling and signed for Cork City in 2008.  Within a few months Sunderland’s Irish scouting network had spotted Meyler and bought him to the Stadium of Light where he spent four and a half seasons prior to his Hull City switch.

In June 2018, after his release from Hull City, he joined Championship rivals Reading on a two year deal.  But his time at the Royals did not begin well and in January 2019 he was loaned to Coventry City before being released the following summer. A few months later he announced his retirement due to persistent knee injuries.

After ending his playing days Meyler took his coaching badges and opened a football coaching school in the Hull area while also assisting the academy at Hull City. In July 2024 he was appointed assistant manager for Hull City’s Under-18 side.

Meyler is an established regular for the Ireland senior XI, having made his international debut in 2012 after earlier caps at under-19 and under-21 levels.

Details

Nationality: Ireland
Date/Place of Birth: 29 May 1989, Cork (Ireland)
Hull City First Game: 10 November 2012, Cardiff City A (Championship), 23 years, 165 days old
Hull City Final Game: 28 April 2018, Cardiff City H (Championship), 28 years, 334 days old

Clubs

Cork City (2008), Sunderland (2008-2013), Hull City (2012-2013, loan), Hull City (2013-2018), Reading (2018-2019), Coventry City (2019, loan)

Hull City Record

Career: 191 apps, 19 goals

David Meyler
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2012/1325 (3)51 (0)0------
2013/1427 (3)26 (1)23 (0)0----
2014/1519 (9)1--1 (0)03 (0)0--
2015/1620 (6)23 (0)03 (1)1--0 (2)0
2016/179 (11)12 (0)05 (1)0----
2017/1817 (8)51 (1)0------

1 thought on “971 David Meyler”

  1. MEYLER: A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

    On 27 April this year with the 2017/18 season drawing to a close, Peter Johnson, Editor of Hull City social media group Tigerlink reviewed David Meyler’s time in East Yorkshire, one of the few players from the Bruce era who was still part of the set up at the KCOM at the time.

    Sadly the end of season atmosphere was flat and felt more like a relegation, and once again a true Hull City hero has been allowed to leave without proper recognition and a total lack of warmth and appreciation from the Club. No wonder players are leaving our Club in droves! No wonder Michael Dawson drove to Nottingham in a bid to escape.

    The Allams are destroying everything that is good about our football club. Thousands will return and the reputation of the club will be restored when they go. For the moment fans are trapped within the horror story of their reluctant ownership but we must show our resolve and prepare for the day when the rebuilding begins and when all those connected with Hull City, owners, coach, manager, players and fans are all pulling in the same direction and the club is returned to the community it was formed to represent.

    DAVID MEYLER: A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

    If David Meyler departs Hull City at the end of this season then he takes with him countless memories of a glorious career with the men in black and amber.

    Whilst he often divides opinion amongst City fans, he was a fundamental part of the Steve Bruce era and made a huge contribution to our flirtation with football’s big time. Two promotions to the Premier League including a Wembley Play Off Final in 2016, the 2014 Wembley FA Cup Semi Final and Final and a brief taste of European football. And of course he scored at Wembley in the Semi Final. All at a time when his international career with the Republic of Ireland also blossomed to the point where he took over the captaincy. He did okay I reckon.

    Whilst not renowned as a goalscorer, some of his goals will live long in the memory of Hull City fans and will always be a big part of of a colourful and unprecedented period in our history. It’s arguably not the strongest part of his game but he scored some crucial goals during his time with us and seemed a player inspired by the big occasion.

    We like a trier in Hull. Meyler is a scrapper. His midfield role is rarely a glamorous one, chasing, tackling, closing down, organising and distributing, looking to win possession and build attacks. Rather like Ian Ashbee in Phil Brown’s Hull City side, Meyler’s attributes were not always clearly visible to some fans but he has been a superb team man and would be much missed. If he leaves he will be the last of Bruce’s sizeable Irish contingent to do so and along with the likes of Brady, Quinn and the legendary McShane, this popular group of lads from the Emerald Isle will always be fondly remembered by City fans.

    David arrived at Hull City on loan from Sunderland in November 2012. He scored his first goal away at Watford later that month and was signed by Steve Bruce early in 2013. His five years at the KCOM have been eventful and largely very successful, yet he probably first achieved national fame following his infamous touchline skirmish with Alan Pardew when the Newcastle manager headbutted Meyler during the game at the KCOM on 1 March 2014.

    Whilst he has been a consistent performer, for many Hull City fans the 2013/14 season will rank as Meyler’s finest spell. His first Premier League goal came in the historic first PL win over Liverpool in December 2013, but my personal favourite Meyler memory came just a few days after the Pardew incident when he scored a vital and memorable goal in the FA Cup Quarter Final win at home to Sunderland, running to the corner flag after he scored to head butt it and mock the incident with the Newcastle boss. A great moment in a wonderful win for Hull City which was the starter for two trips to Wembley Stadium in just a few weeks for the Tiger Nation.

    David Meyler is only 28 and has a lot to offer any football club. He is a seasoned professional and proven performer at both Premier League and Championship level with a wealth of experience for both club and country. He should of course be given a new contract but given the current state of our football club, it may not happen. Like so many before him he has applied himself admirably even in the Ehab induced ‘post Bruce fallout’ he has stuck it out and given his all. But whatever is said publicly the crazy antics of the dreadful Allams must have been tough to work with over the last few years and Meyler may long for a move to a happier and more settled environment. Who can blame him. He probably deserves a testimonial for surviving the Allam era this long.

    A final point to mention is that David Meyler has been one of the first Hull City players to become well known for his social media presence. His Twitter account remains active, interesting and informative and during one of the recent ‘silences of the Allams’ he arguably became Hull City’s most effective communication outlet, providing a useful insight at a time when the gulf between owners and fans was widening fast. Yet his tweets remain sensible and professional, with a touch of Irish humour often included.

    So when you think about the greatest Hull City players of all time you might not straight away think of David Meyler but if you draw up a list of Hull City all time favourites and greats then ask yourself this, did they;

    captain Hull City?
    captain their country?
    score in a Hull City Premier League win over Liverpool?
    play and score in a Wembley FA Cup Semi Final for Hull City?
    play in a Wembley FA Cup Final for Hull City?
    have 3 seasons and 70 appearances for Hull City in the Premier League?
    play in Europe with Hull City?

    David Meyler did.

    So will he stay or will he go? I’d like to see him stay. Either way I’d like to thank him for everything he’s done at our football club. A great professional on and off the pitch, all the best for the future and let’s hope you play many more games for the Republic of Ireland and inspire them to more success.

    Without doubt David Meyler, you’ve done Cork proud.

    (This article also features in FanaticHull City fanzine issue 35)

    tigerlink.co.uk

    Reply

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