Dave started his career with Curzon Ashton aged 22, but within 5 months was at Halifax Town, overlapping with fellow signing Dave German for a couple of months, where he stayed over a year, and put in such good performances that Lincoln City forked out ?20,000 for him. He was released in May 1995, joining Ashton United for a two month spell, before rejoining the football league with Crewe Alexandra. After 10 months with the Alex, and two loan spells with Hednesford Town, Dave joined Leigh at the start of the 1998 season, helped them win promotion and made over 200 appearances, scoring important goals and establishing himself as a fans favourite However, he joined Celtic at the end of his career, and has decided to hang up his boots after only a short while.