David John Theobald (born 15 December 1978) is an English retired semi-professional footballer who played as a defender in the Football League for Brentford, Swansea City and Cambridge United. He played the majority of his career in non-League football, predominantly for Cambridge City, for whom he made over 270 appearances across three spells. He is currently first team coach at Cambridge City.

David Theobald
Personal information
Full name David John Theobald[1]
Date of birth (1978-12-15) 15 December 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth Cambridge, England
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Cambridge City (first team coach)
Youth career
Cambridge United
0000–1997 Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Ipswich Town 0 (0)
1999–2002 Brentford 31 (0)
2002–2003 Swansea City 10 (0)
2003 Cambridge United 4 (0)
2003Cambridge City (loan) 1 (0)
2003–2005 Canvey Island 59 (4)
2004Bishop's Stortford (loan) 5 (0)
2005–2006 Kettering Town 31 (5)
2006–2007 St Albans City 22 (3)
2007 Kettering Town 19 (0)
2007–2013 Cambridge City 219 (31)
2013–2015 Royston Town 20 (1)
2015–2016 Soham Town Rangers 16 (2)
2017–2019 Cambridge City 1 (0)
Managerial career
2015–2016 Soham Town Rangers (joint-manager)
2016 Soham Town Rangers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Early years

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Theobald began his career in the youth system at Cambridge United, before joining the youth setup at Ipswich Town.[3] He progressed to undertake a scholarship, but did not win a call into a first team squad before his release at the end of the 1998–99 season.[3]

Brentford

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On 8 July 1999, Theobald signed a three-year contract with newly promoted Second Division club Brentford on a free transfer.[3][4] He was utilised as cover for injuries and had a run in the team as a stand-in right back for the injured Danny Boxall during the 1999–00 season and in central defence for Scott Marshall during 2000–01.[5] Theobald was named in the starting lineup for the 2001 Football League Trophy Final and received a runners-up medal.[5] He was released after Brentford's defeat in the 2002 Second Division play-off final and made just 37 appearances during three seasons at Griffin Park.[2][6]

Swansea City

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On 26 July 2002, Theobald signed a one-year contract with Third Division club Swansea City on a free transfer.[7] He made just 12 appearances before leaving the Vetch Field in February 2003.[8]

Cambridge United

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On 7 February 2003, Theobald joined hometown Third Division club Cambridge United on a contract running until the end of the 2002–03 season.[2] He made just one appearance before his contract expired.[8]

Non-League football

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Between 2003 and 2018, Theobald had a long career in non-League football, predominantly with Cambridge City, for whom he made 274 appearances and scored 39 goals across three spells.[9] He also played for Canvey Island, Kettering Town, St Albans City, Royston Town, Soham Town Rangers and Bishop's Stortford.[10]

Managerial and coaching career

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Soham Town Rangers

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On 8 October 2015, Theobald and fellow senior player Robbie Nightingale took over as joint-managers of Isthmian League First Division North club Soham Town Rangers.[11] He remained in the role until 4 December 2016, when he followed Nightingale out of the club.[12][13]

Cambridge City

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On 5 December 2016, Theobald returned to Southern League Premier Division club Cambridge City as first team coach.[9][14]

Personal life

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Theobald attended Impington Village College.[3] He is a Liverpool and Cambridge United supporter.[3]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1999–00[15] Second Division 10 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 11 0
2000–01[16] Second Division 15 0 0 0 0 0 4[a] 0 19 0
2001–02[17] Second Division 6 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 7 0
Total 31 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 37 0
Swansea City 2002–03[8] Third Division 10 0 1 0 0 0 1[a] 0 12 0
Cambridge United 2002–03[8] Third Division 4 0 4 0
Cambridge City (loan) 2002–03[18] Southern League Premier Division 1 0 1 0
Canvey Island 2003–04[19] Isthmian League Premier Division 40 3 2 0 0 0 42 3
2004–05[20] Conference Premier 16 1 0 0 0 0 16 1
2005–06[21] Conference Premier 3 0 3 0
Total 59 4 2 0 0 0 61 4
Bishop's Stortford (loan) 2004–05[20] Conference South 5 0 5 0
Kettering Town 2005–06[21] Conference North 31 5 1 0 0 0 32 5
St Albans City 2006–07[22] Conference Premier 22 3 1 0 2[b] 0 25 3
Kettering Town 2006–07[23] Conference North 19 0 2[c] 0 21 0
Cambridge City 2007–08[24] Conference South 29 4 0 0 5[d] 0 34 4
2008–09[25] Southern League Premier Division 34 6 3 1 8[e] 0 45 7
2009–10[10] Southern League Premier Division 35 5 2 0 9[f] 2 46 7
2010–11[10] Southern League Premier Division 37 5 4 1 8[g] 0 49 6
2011–12[10] Southern League Premier Division 43 9 2 1 2[h] 0 47 10
2012–13[10] Southern League Premier Division 41 2 7 3 3[i] 0 51 5
Total 219 31 18 6 35 2 272 39
Royston Town 2013–14[10] Southern League First Division Central 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2014–15[10] Southern League First Division Central 19 1 1 0 4[j] 0 24 1
Total 20 1 1 0 4 0 25 1
Soham Town Rangers 2015–16[26] Isthmian League First Division North 16 2 1 0 2[k] 0 19 2
Cambridge City 2017–18[10] Southern League First Division East 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2018–19[10] Southern League First Division Central 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 439 46 25 6 0 0 50 2 514 54
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ One appearance in FA Trophy; one appearance in Herts Senior Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Conference North play-offs
  4. ^ Three appearances in FA Trophy; two appearances in Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup
  5. ^ Four appearances in FA Trophy; two appearances in Southern League Cup; two appearances in Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup
  6. ^ Seven appearances, two goals in Southern League Cup; one appearance in FA Trophy; one appearance in Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup
  7. ^ Three appearances in FA Trophy; three appearances in Southern League Cup; one appearance in Southern League Premier Division play-offs; one appearance in Southern League Championship
  8. ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
  9. ^ Two appearances in Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup; one appearance in FA Trophy
  10. ^ One appearance in Herts Senior Cup; one appearance in Herts Charity Cup
  11. ^ One appearance in FA Trophy; one appearance in Isthmian League Cup

Honours

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Brentford

Canvey Island

Cambridge City

References

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  1. ^ "David Theobald". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b c David Theobald at Soccerbase
  3. ^ a b c d e MacInnes, Keith. "Featured Player: David Theobald". Brentford Football Club. Archived from the original on 11 August 2002. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Premier and Football League transfers". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  5. ^ a b Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (18 November 2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 (First ed.). Yore Publications. p. 159. ISBN 9780955294914.
  6. ^ "Bees release six". Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Swans clinch double signing". 26 July 2002. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d "Games played by David Theobald in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  9. ^ a b Dunn, Andrew. "Theobald returns as first team coach". www.cambridgecityfc.com. Retrieved 26 December 2017.[dead link]
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Dave Theobald Profile". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Steve Fallon quits Soham Town Rangers as experienced duo take over". The Non League Football Paper – Daily football news. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  12. ^ Pearce, Seb. "Dave Theobald praises Soham Town Rangers players, chairman and fans after following Robbie Nightingale in leaving the club". Ely Standard. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  13. ^ Walker, Guy (30 November 2016). "Robbie Nightingale is appointed Cambridge City manager". cambridgenews. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Players". www.cambridgecityfc.com. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Games played by David Theobald in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Games played by David Theobald in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  17. ^ "Games played by David Theobald in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  18. ^ "Goals and Games 02/03". www.cambridgecityfc.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Player Details: Season 2003–2004". SoccerFacts UK. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Player Details: Season 2004–2005". SoccerFacts UK. Retrieved 28 July 2018.[dead link]
  21. ^ a b "Player Details: Season 2005–2006". SoccerFacts UK. Retrieved 28 July 2018.[dead link]
  22. ^ "Season 2006–07 appearances". St Albans City F.C. History & Archives. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Player Details: Season 2005–2006". SoccerFacts UK. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Goals and Games 07/08". www.cambridgecityfc.com. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  25. ^ "Goals and Games 08/09". www.cambridgecityfc.com. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  26. ^ "Soham Town Rangers | Appearances | David Theobald | 2015–2016". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  28. ^ "Goals and Games 09/10". www.cambridgecityfc.com. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
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