David Freeman (footballer)

David Barry Freeman (born 25 November 1979) is an Irish former footballer who played as a striker or in central-midfield; he now works as a coach at Burton Albion.

David Freeman
Personal information
Full name David Barry Freeman[1]
Date of birth (1979-11-25) 25 November 1979
Place of birth Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder / Forward
Youth career
Cherry Orchard
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2002 Nottingham Forest 8 (0)
2000 → Port Vale (loan) 3 (0)
2002 Carlisle United 4 (0)
2003 Ilkeston Town
2003 St Patrick's Athletic
2004–2005 Drogheda United
2005–2006 Dublin City
2006–2007 Longford Town
2008 Shelbourne
2009 Monaghan United
2010 Longford Town 21 (2)
2011 Drogheda United 22 (2)
International career
1996 Republic of Ireland U16 3 (0)
1995 Republic of Ireland U17 2 (0)
1998 Republic of Ireland U18 2 (0)
2000 Republic of Ireland U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He began his career in England with Nottingham Forest in 1998, and had a loan spell at Port Vale in 2000. He had a brief spell with Carlisle United and Ilkeston Town in 2002 and 2003, before he returned to Ireland to play for St Patrick's Athletic. He helped the club to the League of Ireland Cup, before he signed with Drogheda United in 2004. The next year he moved on to Dublin City, before he joined Longford Town in 2006. He switched to Shelbourne in 2008, before he arrived at Monaghan United in 2009. He returned to Longford Town in 2010, before he finished his career with Drogheda United in 2011.

Playing career

Freeman began his career in England with Nottingham Forest, joining the club in 1996. Freeman went on to sign professional terms with the former European champions but only made limited appearances during his tenure at the City Ground. He also had a loan spell with Port Vale in 2000 during his time at Forest.[3] Despite early promise, Freeman was released by Forest in 2002, a knee injury had restricted the already limited opportunities he had to impress the Forest management.[4] Freeman went on to have short spells with Carlisle United[5] and Ilkeston Town before returning to Ireland by signing for St Patrick's Athletic in 2003.

Freeman spent one season with the "Saints", but his sole season will largely remembered for scoring the winning goal for Pats in the 2003 League of Ireland Cup Final against Longford Town.[6] Freeman also made an appearance for the Saints in that seasons FAI Cup final, a match Pats lost to Longford Town.[7] Freeman joined Drogheda United for the 2004 season on a professional contract and became a regular figure for the Drogs". The 2005 season though saw Freeman struggle to retain his regular place in the "Drogs" first team and as a result, Freeman joined First Division promotion contenders Dublin City in July 2005, initially on loan.[8] Freeman went on to sign permanently for the "Vikings" and was instrumental in their successful promotion that season. Freeman began the 2006 season back in the Premier Division with Dublin City, but City folded in July 2006 due to financial difficulties.[9] As a result, Freeman became a free agent and would soon sign for Longford Town.[10] Freeman became a regular figure in the Longford team but struggled to find the back of the net only scoring two goals for the Flancare Park club. Freeman's 2007 campaign was prematurely halted by the diagnosis of a heart condition. He did not play again that season and he departed Longford at the end of that season.[11] Freeman signed for Shelbourne in December 2007 on condition of receiving the all-clear from his medics.

Freeman made his Shelbourne debut in a scoreless draw against Dundalk at Tolka Park on 7 March 2008.[12] He scored his first Shelbourne goal a week later during a 3–1 victory over Kildare County at Station Road on 14 March 2008.[13] He finished as a First Division runner-up with "Shels" in the 2008 season and he made 31 league and cup appearances, scoring eight goals in the process. Freeman departed Shels at the end of the season to join Monaghan United on 27 January 2009. Freeman re-joined Longford Town in January 2010, but was released at the end of the 2010 season. He returned to another former club, Drogheda United, for their 2011 Premier Division campaign.

Coaching career

Freeman worked as a coach at the academy at Burton Albion, before he was taken on as a full-time academy staff member in July 2017.[14]

Career statistics

Source:[15]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nottingham Forest1999–2000First Division30000030
2000–01First Division50100060
Total 80100090
Port Vale (loan)20000–01Second Division30000030
Carlisle United2002–03Third Division40000040
Longford Town[16]2010LOI First Division21200002122
Drogheda United[16]2011LOI Premier Division2220010232

Honours

St. Patrick's Athletic

Dublin City

Shelbourne

References
  1. "David Freeman". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. "David Freeman". shelbournefc.com. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  3. "Vale look to Freeman". kickinmagazine.ie. 8 September 2000. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  4. "Freeman signs for Carlisle". BBC Sport. 17 September 2002. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  5. "Cumbrians release Freeman". BBC Sport. 15 October 2002. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  6. "High drama as Pats seal late win". eleven-a-side.com. 25 August 2003. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  7. "Cup glory for Longford". irishfootballonline.com. 26 October 2003. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  8. "Vikings bring in Freeman on loan from Drogheda". a2zsoccer.com. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  9. "Dublin City FC bow out of eircom League". rte.ie. 19 July 2006. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  10. "Longford Town v Drogheda United team news". rte.ie. 30 July 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  11. "Dave Freeman out for the season". ltfc.ie. 1 October 2007. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  12. "Shelbourne 0–0 Dundalk". rte.ie. 7 March 2008. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  13. "Kildare County 1–3 Shelbourn". rte.ie. 14 March 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  14. Cusack, Richard (11 July 2017). "Albion have added to their academy with this former Forest man". Burton Mail. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  15. David Freeman at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  16. David Freeman at Soccerway
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