Where Are They Now – Dave Phillips

The ‘Where Are They Now’ series continues with Peverell Green taking a look at the career of former Argyle utility player Dave Phillips.

Dave Phillips – Born 29th July 1963 in Wegburg Germany.

Dave started his football career as an apprentice at Home Park, signing as a professional in 1981.
While at the club he was selected to play for Wales, once as a Youth International and 4 times at U-21 level. He was a member of the 1984 team that reached the semi-final of the FA Cup that were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Watford at Villa Park.
He played a total of 93 times for Argyle scoring 16 goals.

His talent was recognised by Manchester City and he joined them in August 1984 for a fee of £65,000.
While at Maine Road he won the first of many full international caps and played for City a total of 99 times scoring 16 goals, many of them spectacular long range piledrivers, several of which were nominated for Goal of the Month on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme.

His goal scoring ability, industrious midfield performances and being able to drop back into defence if required caught the eye of the Coventry City manager and former Argyle player John Sillett, and he joined them in June 1986 for £150,000.
Even though he won further international caps the highlight of his time at Coventry has to be the1987 FA Cup win over Spurs, twice having to come from behind before finally securing the cup with a goal in extra time.
Strangely enough given the multi-national teams of today Dave was the only non English player in the Coventry team, even Spurs had only 3 non English players, one was from Scotland and one from the Ireland, only Ossie Ardilles came from outside of Europe, I wonder if we will ever see that many home born players in a Wembley final again?
Their FA Cup win earned them another Wembley appearance, in the Charity Shield game against the league champions, unfortunately Dave finished up on the losing side with Everton winning 1-0, Peter Reid was playing at No.6 for the winners.
A further 11 goals in 116 appearances for Coventry meant another move was on the cards.

In July 1989 he signed for Norwich for £525,000, then a club record for the Norfolk side, it soon proved money well spent, scoring a goal on his debut after only two minutes.
A successful four years at Carrow Road followed and he played an important part in the team the finished third in the inaugural 1992-93 Premiership season. With his contract coming to an end Dave was unable to agree terms and he decided to move on.

In August 1993 he joined Notts Forest for £500,000, in his first season with the club Forest were promoted to the Premiership. Despite being overlooked at times by various managers he still managed to make 149 appearances scoring 5 goals.

In November 1997 a lack of regular opportunities led to him moving to Division 1 strugglers Huddersfield on a free transfer. He played for them a total of 58 times scoring 3 goals.

Dave moved to Lincoln on transfer deadline day on 24th March 1999 on a free transfer, he played for them 19 times and for the first time in his long career failed to score for a club.
At the end of May 2000 he was told Lincoln wouldn’t be offering him another contract.

In October 2001 he joined Conference team Stevenage, within weeks of signing for them he unsuccessfully applied for the manager’s job at Conference rivals Nuneaton.
He finished his playing career in May 2001 after making 19 appearances and scoring his final professional goal.

At the end of a successful career that included 62 appearances at full international level for Wales and a FA Cup winner’s medal he returned to Coventry to coach the under- 14 youth team.
He currently works for BBC Wales as a summariser for games involving Swansea, Cardiff and Wrexham.