David Mitchell (footballer, born 1945)

David Mitchell
Personal information
Full name David John Mitchell[1]
Date of birth (1945-08-24)24 August 1945[1]
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Date of death 10 December 2020(2020-12-10) (aged 75)[2]
Position(s) Centre-forward
Youth career
Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1964–1966 Port Vale 21 (4)
1966–1967 Ipswich Town 2 (0)
Total 23 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

David John Mitchell (24 August 1945 – 10 December 2020) was an English footballer who played for Port Vale and Ipswich Town in the Football League in the 1960s.

Career

Mitchell graduated through the Port Vale youth team to sign professional forms under manager Freddie Steele in March 1964.[1] He made his first-team debut at Vale Park on 7 September 1964, in a 1–0 defeat to Luton Town.[2] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw at Mansfield Town on 28 September.[2] He scored four goals in 19 league and cup games in the 1964–65 season, as the "Valiants" were relegated out of the Third Division.[1] However, he played just five games in the 1965–66 season, scoring one goal in a 3–0 home win over Lincoln City, as Vale struggled near the foot of the Fourth Division table under new boss Jackie Mudie.[1] He was given a free transfer in May 1966 and moved on to Ipswich Town.[1] He played just two Second Division games for Bill McGarry's "Blues" in the 1966–67 season, and left the Football League after departing Portman Road.[2] He later became a police officer in Stoke-on-Trent and married Mary.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 1964–65 Third Division 17 3 1 1 1 0 19 4
1965–66 Fourth Division 4 1 1 0 0 0 5 1
Total 21 4 2 1 1 0 24 5
Ipswich Town 1966–67 Second Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 23 4 2 1 1 1 26 5

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 201. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e official matchday programme Port Vale v Barrow (PDF). 26 December 2020. p. 9.
  3. ^ David Mitchell at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)