David Mitchell (footballer, born 1945)

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.

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

Career

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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

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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

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  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)