David Riley (footballer)

Riley played for Shepshed Charterhouse and Keyworth United, before leaving his job as a sales representative to turn professional with Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest at the age of 23 in June 1983. Clough had seen him play in a reserve team game and said "son, I don't give a fuck how old are you, if you can score goals like that".[3] He had been recommended to Forest by goalkeeping coach and former Shepshed manager Alan Hill.[3] Riley played 12 First Division games for the club between April 1984 and 1987, scoring two goals. He tore his cruciate ligament in 1985–86 pre-season and was out of action for 18 months.[3] He was loaned out to Darlington in February 1987, and played six Third Division games for Cyril Knowles' side, scoring two goals. He joined Fourth Division side Peterborough United on loan in 1987, and played twelve league games under Noel Cantwell, scoring two goals. Peterborough tried to sign him but were unable to as the club headed for administration.[3]

Riley joined Third Division club Port Vale in October 1987, manager John Rudge splashing out £20,000.[1] He scored on his debut at Vale Park in a 2–1 win over Bristol Rovers on 19 October.[1] He became the club's joint-top scorer in the 1987–88 season with 10 goals, along with Darren Beckford.[1] He played in the FA Cup fourth round victory over Tottenham Hotspur on 30 January 1988, getting the better of former Forest teammates Steve Hodge and Chris Fairclough.[4]

He then switched to left-wing to cover for the injured Paul Atkinson.[5] Ron Futcher was signed in August 1988 and initially kept Riley out of the first XI, and despite interest from Walsall for Riley's services, Rudge refused his repeated transfer requests.[4] Winger Paul Atkinson then injured his ankle, which left a space in the team for Riley to start matches again, though his main task was to protect left-back Darren Hughes.[4] He played 48 league and cup games in the 1988–89 season, but broke his leg in a 1–1 draw at Bolton Wanderers on 25 April 1989, and so missed out on the play-off final victory over Bristol Rovers.[1] He managed to recover, but did not re-capture his first team position and in March 1990 was loaned back to Peterborough United, who were then under Mark Lawrenson's stewardship; Peterborough paid £40,000 for his services on a permanent basis the next month.[1]

Riley won promotion with the "Posh" in 1990–91, helping Chris Turner's side to the fourth and final promotion place in the Fourth Division. They then won a second successive promotion into the Second Division after beating Stockport County 2–1 in the play-off final at Wembley. Riley then joined Conference National club Kettering Town, and later played for Mount Albert-Ponsonby in New Zealand, before returning to England with non-League sides Boston United and King's Lynn.