David McNiven (footballer born 1978)
Encyclopedia
David Jonathan McNiven is an English
-born Scottish
footballer. He plays as a striker
and is a well travelled player, he has predominantly played in England but has also played football in Scotland and Sweden
.
, McNiven was raised in Lytham St Annes
, Lancashire
where he played junior football for the Y.M.C.A juniors alongside Gavin McCann
who went on to play for Bolton Wanderers
and John Hills who went on to play for Blackpool
.
and in Sweden. He eventually signed for Southport
in the closing months of the 1999-2000 season
. He joined York City
in the summer of 2000, going on to spend just over a year with the Minstermen, and netting eight times. A month with Chester City
followed, before he moved to Scotland
to play for Hamilton Academical
.
At the end of the season, McNiven was on the move yet again, this time back to England and Northwich Victoria
. He played 23 times for the Vics, scoring five goals, but left at the conclusion of the 2002-03 season
to join Leigh RMI
. He came to prominence with the Railwaymen, scoring 25 goals in just 41 games before he took the chance to move back into the Scottish Football League
with Queen of the South
where he spent 18 months, scoring 14 goals.
McNiven spent the latter half of the 2005-06 season
back with Scarborough. After they were relegated, he made the move to Lancashire, signing for Morecambe
ahead of the 2006-07 season
. Mainly used as a squad player, he scored his first goal for Morecambe against Woking
in August 2006. On 31 January 2007 he moved from Morecambe to Stafford Rangers
, initially on a month's loan, only to be recalled by Morecambe due to injury worries. He made a late substitute appearance for Morecambe in the 2006-07
Nationwide Conference play-off final win at Wembley Stadium
against Exeter City
.
McNiven agreed to join Halifax Town in August 2007, but later opted instead to rejoin Stafford Rangers. On 8 October 2008 he was due to join Fleetwood Town
on a one month loan deal, however injuries at Stafford Rangers meant he did not sign.
He left Stafford in the summer of 2009 to move closer to his Lancashire home, joining Hyde United, becoming one of a number of signings made by manager Neil Tolson
ahead of the 2009–10 season. He finished the 2009-10 season with Hyde as the club top goalscorer with 13 goals in all competitions. In summer 2010 after just one season with Hyde
, he joined their rivals Droylsden
.
In March 2011 he was released from the club along with Jody Banim
and subsequently re-joined his brother's side Hyde
.
was also a professional footballer as is his twin brother, Scott
who plays for the same club.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer. He plays as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
and is a well travelled player, he has predominantly played in England but has also played football in Scotland and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Early life
Born in LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, McNiven was raised in Lytham St Annes
Lytham St Annes
Lytham St Annes is a conurbation in the Fylde district of Lancashire, England. The neighbouring towns of Lytham and St-Anne's-on-the-Sea have grown together and now form a seaside resort...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
where he played junior football for the Y.M.C.A juniors alongside Gavin McCann
Gavin McCann
Gavin Peter McCann is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. He has one England cap to his name, playing against Spain at Villa Park in 2001.-Club career:...
who went on to play for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
and John Hills who went on to play for Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
Club career
McNiven came through the ranks at Oldham Athletic alongside brother Scott but struggled to establish himself with the Latics. After loan spells with ScarboroughScarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
and in Sweden. He eventually signed for Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
in the closing months of the 1999-2000 season
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
. He joined York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in the summer of 2000, going on to spend just over a year with the Minstermen, and netting eight times. A month with Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
followed, before he moved to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to play for Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
.
At the end of the season, McNiven was on the move yet again, this time back to England and Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
. He played 23 times for the Vics, scoring five goals, but left at the conclusion of the 2002-03 season
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
to join Leigh RMI
Leigh RMI F.C.
Leigh Genesis Football Club, formerly known as Horwich Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. and Leigh Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. , was an English semi-professional association football team that folded after relegation from the Northern Premier League in 2011...
. He came to prominence with the Railwaymen, scoring 25 goals in just 41 games before he took the chance to move back into the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
with Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
where he spent 18 months, scoring 14 goals.
McNiven spent the latter half of the 2005-06 season
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
back with Scarborough. After they were relegated, he made the move to Lancashire, signing for Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
ahead of the 2006-07 season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
. Mainly used as a squad player, he scored his first goal for Morecambe against Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
in August 2006. On 31 January 2007 he moved from Morecambe to Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
, initially on a month's loan, only to be recalled by Morecambe due to injury worries. He made a late substitute appearance for Morecambe in the 2006-07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
Nationwide Conference play-off final win at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
against Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
.
McNiven agreed to join Halifax Town in August 2007, but later opted instead to rejoin Stafford Rangers. On 8 October 2008 he was due to join Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
on a one month loan deal, however injuries at Stafford Rangers meant he did not sign.
He left Stafford in the summer of 2009 to move closer to his Lancashire home, joining Hyde United, becoming one of a number of signings made by manager Neil Tolson
Neil Tolson
Neil Tolson is a former English footballer who is currently assistant manager to Lee Sinnott at Conference North side Altrincham after being sacked as manager of Hyde in May 2011.-Career:...
ahead of the 2009–10 season. He finished the 2009-10 season with Hyde as the club top goalscorer with 13 goals in all competitions. In summer 2010 after just one season with Hyde
Hyde F.C.
Hyde F.C. are an English semi-professional football club from Hyde, Greater Manchester, who are nicknamed The Tigers. Formed in 1885 the club changed its name to Hyde United in 1919, before reverting to Hyde F.C. in June 2010...
, he joined their rivals Droylsden
Droylsden F.C.
Droylsden F.C. is an English football club based in Droylsden, near Manchester. As of the 2011–12 season, they play in the Conference North.-History:...
.
In March 2011 he was released from the club along with Jody Banim
Jody Banim
Jodie "Jody" Banim is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Ebbsfleet United.-Career:Born in Manchester, Greater Manchester, Banim began his career as a trainee with Manchester United, but was released from their academy in 1996 and joined his local side, Trafford. He joined Altrincham...
and subsequently re-joined his brother's side Hyde
Hyde F.C.
Hyde F.C. are an English semi-professional football club from Hyde, Greater Manchester, who are nicknamed The Tigers. Formed in 1885 the club changed its name to Hyde United in 1919, before reverting to Hyde F.C. in June 2010...
.
International career
He was called up to the England C national team in 2004 and appeared four times for them.Personal life
McNiven's father (also called David)David McNiven (footballer born 1955)
David Scott McNiven is a Scottish former footballer who played for Leeds United, Bradford City, Blackpool and Morecambe. His sons David and Scott are both football players as well.-Sources:*...
was also a professional footballer as is his twin brother, Scott
Scott McNiven
Scott Andrew McNiven is an English-born Scottish footballer who is currently a free agent after being released by Hyde.He started his career at Oldham Athletic in 1995 before moving on to Oxford United in 2002...
who plays for the same club.