David Seal
Encyclopedia
David Seal is a former Australian football (soccer) player who is currently retired. He played as a striker.
(NSL) in Australia
where he played for Sydney Croatia, Marconi Fairfield and Sydney Olympic and was the NSL top goal scorer two years in a row in the 1989–90
season with Sydney Croatia scoring 15 goals, and the 1990–91
season with Marconi Fairfield scoring 19 goals.
He moved to Europe
in 1993, joining Belgian
side Eendracht Aalst in Belgium
. He had a trial with Norwich City
while at Eendracht but no contract was offered. In October 1994 he moved to England
, joining Bristol City
for a fee of £
80,000. He moved to Northampton Town
on loan in August 1997, scoring four times in six league games during his loan spell. Such was his form that the move was made permanent, Seal costing the Cobblers £90,000, on 12 September 1997.
Seal finished his first season with Northampton as their leading goalscoring, with 14 goals in league and cup games. He was also the leading goalscorer for their reserve side with 12 goals in 10 games. He remained with Northampton until May 1999 when he was released after Northampton's relegation to Division Three.
He returned to Australia to play for Northern Spirit
in the 1999–2000 NSL season where he scored 9 goals in 20 appearances. However, after just one season Seal returned to England where he joined Mangotsfield United
in July 2000. In the 2001–02 season, he scored 11 goals in the FA Cup
for Mangotsfield, earning him an award as the FA Cup's leading goalscorer. Seal scored 166 goals in 236 appearances for Mangotsfield, before joining local rivals Yate Town
in July 2006.
Seal's stay with Yate lasted only four months, returning to Mangotsfield United in December 2006. However, his return to Mangotsfield was a short one as in March 2007, he joined Western Football League
Premier Division side Bitton where he only made two appearances.
In September 2008, Seal joined Western Football League Premier Division side Melksham Town
as part of the coaching staff and as a player.
which finished fourth at the 1991 Fifa World Youth Championship in Portugal
where he played all six games and scored three goals in total which included one goal in a 2–0 win over Trinidad and Tobago
in the first round, scored the only goal in a 1–1 draw with Syria
in the quarter finals which Australia won on penalty shoot-out 5–4 and scored the only goal in the 1–1 draw aganist USSR
in the third place play-off match which Australia lost on penalty shoot-out 5–4. He also competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Spain
for the Australian Under 23's
team which finished fourth where he played five games.
Southern League
Division One West Championship: 2004-05
Personal Honours:
Career
Seal started his career in the old National Soccer LeagueNational Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
(NSL) in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where he played for Sydney Croatia, Marconi Fairfield and Sydney Olympic and was the NSL top goal scorer two years in a row in the 1989–90
National Soccer League 1989-90
-Overview:It was performed in 14 teams, and Sydney Olympic won the championship.-Regular season:-Elimination final:*Sydney Olympic 2-1 Adelaide City*Melbourne Croatia 2-1 South Melbourne-Minor semifinal:*Sydney Olympic 1-0 South Melbourne-Major semifinal:...
season with Sydney Croatia scoring 15 goals, and the 1990–91
National Soccer League 1990-91
-Overview:It was performed in 14 teams, and South Melbourne won the championship.-Regular season:-Major semifinal:*Melbourne Croatia 1-0 South Melbourne-Grand final:*South Melbourne 1-1 Melbourne Croatia-Individual awards:...
season with Marconi Fairfield scoring 19 goals.
He moved to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1993, joining Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
side Eendracht Aalst in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He had a trial with Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
while at Eendracht but no contract was offered. In October 1994 he moved to England
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...
, joining Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
for a fee of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
80,000. He moved to Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
on loan in August 1997, scoring four times in six league games during his loan spell. Such was his form that the move was made permanent, Seal costing the Cobblers £90,000, on 12 September 1997.
Seal finished his first season with Northampton as their leading goalscoring, with 14 goals in league and cup games. He was also the leading goalscorer for their reserve side with 12 goals in 10 games. He remained with Northampton until May 1999 when he was released after Northampton's relegation to Division Three.
He returned to Australia to play for Northern Spirit
Northern Spirit FC
Northern Spirit Football Club was a football club based in North Sydney, Australia. Northern Spirit entered the National Soccer League in the 1998-99 season...
in the 1999–2000 NSL season where he scored 9 goals in 20 appearances. However, after just one season Seal returned to England where he joined Mangotsfield United
Mangotsfield United F.C.
Mangotsfield United F.C. is an English football club based in Mangotsfield, in the Greater Bristol area, who currently play in the Southern League Division One South and West. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA and Somerset County FA....
in July 2000. In the 2001–02 season, he scored 11 goals in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
for Mangotsfield, earning him an award as the FA Cup's leading goalscorer. Seal scored 166 goals in 236 appearances for Mangotsfield, before joining local rivals Yate Town
Yate Town F.C.
Yate Town F.C. is a football club based in Yate, South Gloucestershire, England. They were established in 1906 as Yate Rovers and changed their name to Yate YMCA in 1946, becoming Yate Town in 1969...
in July 2006.
Seal's stay with Yate lasted only four months, returning to Mangotsfield United in December 2006. However, his return to Mangotsfield was a short one as in March 2007, he joined Western Football League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
Premier Division side Bitton where he only made two appearances.
In September 2008, Seal joined Western Football League Premier Division side Melksham Town
Melksham Town F.C.
Melksham Town F.C. are a football club based in Melksham, Wiltshire, England. They were established in 1876 and joined the Western Football League in 1974....
as part of the coaching staff and as a player.
International career
Seal represented the Australian Under 20'sAustralia national under-20 football team
The Australia national under-20 association football team, more commonly known as the Young Socceroos, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia in international Under 20 or youth football competitions....
which finished fourth at the 1991 Fifa World Youth Championship in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
where he played all six games and scored three goals in total which included one goal in a 2–0 win over Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
in the first round, scored the only goal in a 1–1 draw with Syria
Syria national football team
The Syria national football team represents Syria in association football and is controlled by the Syrian Football Association, the governing body for football in Syria. Syria's home grounds are Abbasiyyin Stadium and Aleppo International Stadium...
in the quarter finals which Australia won on penalty shoot-out 5–4 and scored the only goal in the 1–1 draw aganist USSR
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
in the third place play-off match which Australia lost on penalty shoot-out 5–4. He also competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
for the Australian Under 23's
Australia national under-23 football team
The Australia Olympic football team, more commonly known as the Olyroos, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia at association football in the Olympic Games...
team which finished fourth where he played five games.
Honours
With Mangotsfield UnitedMangotsfield United F.C.
Mangotsfield United F.C. is an English football club based in Mangotsfield, in the Greater Bristol area, who currently play in the Southern League Division One South and West. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA and Somerset County FA....
Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
Division One West Championship: 2004-05
Personal Honours:
- NSLNational Soccer LeagueThe National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
Top Scorer: 1989-90National Soccer League 1989-90-Overview:It was performed in 14 teams, and Sydney Olympic won the championship.-Regular season:-Elimination final:*Sydney Olympic 2-1 Adelaide City*Melbourne Croatia 2-1 South Melbourne-Minor semifinal:*Sydney Olympic 1-0 South Melbourne-Major semifinal:...
with Sydney Croatia - 15 goals - NSLNational Soccer LeagueThe National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
Top Scorer: 1990-91National Soccer League 1990-91-Overview:It was performed in 14 teams, and South Melbourne won the championship.-Regular season:-Major semifinal:*Melbourne Croatia 1-0 South Melbourne-Grand final:*South Melbourne 1-1 Melbourne Croatia-Individual awards:...
with Marconi Fairfield - 19 goals