David Steven

David was born in Dundee on March 16^th 1878.

Starting his career with junior club, Dundee Violet, David joined Dundee as a teenager. Although he didn’t play in the first team his skill had been noticed, and Bury F.C., who were playing in the English First Division, took him down to Greater Manchester in August 1896. Once again, he struggled to get into the first team, and only made three appearances. Deciding to return to Scotland, the club refused to release his Football League Registration.

After a short spell back in Dundee, he returned to England in the close season of 1897, joining Southampton, who at that time were Southern League Champions, but not members of the Football League, so this didn’t affect the problem he had regarding his registration papers. He spent two successful seasons with the club, and was renowned for his “fearless, dashing forward play.”

David returned to Dundee once more in 1899. He was in the line-up for a friendly match against Dundee Wanderers, at Clepington Park, on May 5^th.

A popular member of the team. His fellow players presented David and his fiancé with a “marble timepiece, and a brooch for Nellie Adams, the bride to be, on the occasion of their marriage on the 22^nd June 1900.

By the end of the 1901-1902 season his general health had declined, and he left Dundee F.C. In June 1902 it was reported that New Brompton F.C. (who became Gillingham F.C. in 1912) had “secured” his services, but the move wasn’t completed, and instead he joined Montrose.

Tragically, David died at the young age of 25, on April 28^th 1903. He had been in Dundee city centre with friends, when he started to feel ill. Arriving at his father’s house in Annfield Street, he suffered a fatal heart attack. The funeral took place two days later, both Dundee and Montrose clubs sent  officials and players as representatives. He is buried in the Eastern Cemetery.

As fate would have it, on the day David died he rescued a young child who was in danger of being killed after it was knocked down by a horse on Hawkhill.