David Winters (footballer)

David Winters

David Winters in September 2015
Personal information
Full name	David Winters
Date of birth	(1982-03-07) 7 March 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth	Paisley, Scotland
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s)	Attacking mid,forward,striker
Team information
Current team	Darvel (manager)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2003	Dundee United	19	(0)
2001	→ Forfar Athletic (loan)	3	(3)
2003	→ Ross County (loan)	10	(1)
2003–2006	Ross County	97	(24)
2006–2008	Hamilton Academical	45	(8)
2008–2009	Ross County	12	(2)
2009–2010	Livingston	29	(5)
2010	Arbroath	2	(1)
2010	Dumbarton	15	(5)
2010–2011	Can Tho	11	(8)
2011–2012	Dumbarton	12	(1)
2012	Annan Athletic	17	(4)
2012–2013	Ayr United	30	(4)
2013	Queen's Park	1	(0)
2013–2014	Sauchie Juniors	?	(?)
2014–2017	Pollok	?	(?)
2017–2018	Kilwinning Rangers	?	(?)
2018–2019	BSC Glasgow	?	(?)
2019–2021	Caledonian Braves	?	(?)
Managerial career
2021–2023	Caledonian Braves (assistant manager)
2023–2024	Darvel (assistant manager)
2024–	Darvel
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 May 2021

David Winters (born 7 March 1982) is a Scottish former footballer and current manager of West of Scotland side Darvel.

Winters played as a striker and has previously played in the Scottish Premier League for Dundee United.

Playing career

Winters, like older brother Robbie, started his career with Dundee United and played in 19 league matches between 1999 and 2003. During this time, he had loans spells with Forfar Athletic and Ross County, and made the permanent move to Victoria Park in 2003.

After three seasons with The Staggies he moved to Hamilton Academical at the start of season 2006–07. Winters spent the following pre-season at Halifax Town after turning down a deal from Hamilton at the end of the season. He even played, and scored, as a trialist for Halifax against Hamilton in a friendly. However, he signed a contract, until the end of the 2007–08 season, for Hamilton in August. ^[1] Winters was released by Hamilton in January 2008 ^[2] and rejoined Ross County in February. ^[3] He joined Livingston in January 2009.

Winters moved to Dumbarton in March 2010, scoring three goals in his first five appearances. Winters left Dumbarton in May 2010 and moved to Vietnam to play for Can Tho F.C. On 5 August 2011 Winters re-signed for Dumbarton on a one-year deal. He left in January 2012 after failing to establish himself in the Sons first eleven. ^[4] After appearing as a trialist for Annan Athletic, Winters signed a deal until the end of the season, before moving on to Ayr United in the summer. ^{[5] [6]}

In August 2013, Winters joined Junior side Sauchie Juniors. ^[7] In March 2014, Winters joined Pollok. ^[8] He started his impressive goal tally for the Southside Glasgow Giants with four goals on his debut. His seven goals in the final five games of the season could not prevent Lok from being relegated to the West First Division. In March 2015, Winters signed a contract extending his current contract for another year at Newlandsfield. ^[9] With ten matches left in the league season, David's brother, Robbie joined Pollok on loan where the front two would spearhead their attack for the final run-in. Pollok were crowned First Division Champions in May 2015 with Winters scoring 34 Goals that season, with two coming in a 3–0 win in the Evening Times Winners' Cup Final against Blantyre Victoria – Robbie scoring the other. ^[10] Since his 'Lok debut, he has only missed one competitive fixture through injury. He left Pollok in June 2017 following 127 appearances and 83 goals. ^[11]

After leaving Pollok, Winters joined fellow Super League Premier Division team Kilwinning Rangers. ^[12] After a season at Abbey Park, Winters moved to BSC Glasgow. ^[13] In July 2019, he signed for Edusport Academy. ^[14]

Coaching career

Winters announced his retirement from playing on 13 May 2021 while also announcing his new role as assistant manager of Lowland League side Caledonian Braves. ^[15]

He was susbsequently assistant manager to Tony McInally at West of Scotland League club Darvel. When McInally was sacked in May 2024, Winters took over as manager for the rest of the season, including the 2024 Scottish Junior Cup final. ^[16]

Personal life

Winters also coaches young people throughout Glasgow in his role with coaching and groupwork company A&M Training. He is married to former Scotland women footballer Suzanne Grant. ^[17]

Honours

Hamilton Academical

• Scottish First Division: 2007–08

Ross County

• Scottish Second Division: 2007–08

Livingston

• Scottish Third Division: 2009–10

Pollok

• West of Scotland Super League First Division: 2014–15 ^[18]
• Evening Times Cup Winners' Cup: 2014–15 ^[18]
• Central League Cup: 2015–16 ^[19]
• West of Scotland Junior Cup: 2016–17 ^[20]

Kilwinning Rangers

• Ayrshire Junior Cup: 2017–18 ^[21]

BSC Glasgow

• Lowland League Cup: 2018–19

References

1. Winters seals return to Hamilton – BBC Sport website
2. Winters Released ^{[ permanent dead link ]} – Hamilton Accies FC website
3. Accies' Winters moves to County – BBC Sport website
4. Alan Findlay (6 January 2012). "Squad Update". Dumbarton FC. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
5. "07/02/2012 – Player Updates". Annan Athletic FC. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-13. Despite the transfer window closing Harry has managed to secure the services of David Winters until the end of the seasonly, the 29-year-old striker signed the paperwork before training this evening.
6. Wilson, Mike (3 August 2012). "Ayr United move for David Winters and Darren Martin". Ayrshire Post. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
7. "Signings". SJFA News. Scottish Junior Football Association . Retrieved 23 August 2013.
8. "Last orders for Barr at Pollok". Glasgow Times. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
9. "Signing News: Strike Pair Sign New Deals — Pollok Football Club". Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
10. "Winters' wonderland as David and Robbie fire Pollok to Evening Times glory". Glasgow Times. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
11. "David Winters". Twitter. Pollok FC. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
12. "Kilwinning Rangers sign David Winters". Ayr Advertiser. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
13. "David Winters". BSC Glasgow F.C. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
14. Edusport Academy (3 July 2019). "Signing". @EdusportAcademy. Twitter. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
15. "After 20 years playing semipro/professional football it has to come to an end". Twitter. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
16. Carson, Callum (6 May 2024). "Darvel ditch manager two weeks after guiding them to Scottish Junior Cup final". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
17. "Suzanne Winters says career-ending knee injury was 'devastating'". BBC Sport. 11 November 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
18. "Pollok 3 Blantyre Victoria 1: Pollok lift Evening Times Champions' Cup". Evening Times . 13 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
19. "Greenock no match for rampant Pollok in Euroscot Eng Central Cup Final". Evening Times . 16 June 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
20. "WoSJC: Pollock 2 v 2 Cumnock". Pollock FC. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
21. "Saturday 9th June 2018 - 1st Team". LFTC. Retrieved 4 June 2021.

External links

• David Winters at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
• David Winters at Soccerbase