Dave Linney
{{short description|English footballer (born 1961)}}
{{use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Dave Linney
| image =
| fullname = David William Linney
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|9|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Birmingham, England
| death_date =
| youthyears1 = 1977–1979 | youthclubs1 = Birmingham City
| years1 = 1979–1982 | clubs1 = Birmingham City | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1982–1983 | clubs2 = Oxford United | caps2 = 26 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1983–1988 | clubs3 = Yeovil Town | caps3 = | goals3 =
| years4 = 1988–19?? | clubs4 = Basingstoke Town | caps4 = | goals4 =
| years5 = – | clubs5 = Weymouth | caps5 = | goals5 =
| years6 = – | clubs6 = Chard Town | caps6 = | goals6 =
}}
David William Linney (born 5 September 1961) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham City and Oxford United.{{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player9/davidlinney.html |title=David Linney |work=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=6 August 2015}}
Career
Linney was born in the Kings Heath district of Birmingham. He began his football career as an apprentice with Birmingham City in 1977, and turned professional two years later. A useful reserve team player, Linney appeared only once for Birmingham's first team,{{cite book |last=Matthews |first=Tony |title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record |date=1995 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |page=107 |isbn=978-1-85983-010-9}} as substitute for Neil Whatmore in the 2–1 First Division win at home to Stoke City on 13 March 1982, shortly after Ron Saunders had taken over from Jim Smith as manager.Matthews, p. 217. Released when Saunders reduced the size of the squad, Linney rejoined Smith at Oxford United, where he played 37 games in all competitions in the 1982–83 season,{{cite web |url=http://www.rageonline.co.uk/mainpage.php?type=match&player_id=149&what=player |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511175754/http://www.rageonline.co.uk/mainpage.php?type=match&player_id=149&what=player |title=All appearances for David Linney |publisher=Rage Online |archivedate=11 May 2012}} of which 26 were in the Third Division.
Linney joined Yeovil Town, then playing in the Alliance Premier League, in 1983. At the end of the 1983–84 season, Yeovil's supporters' club voted him their Player of the Year.{{cite web |url=http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/history/yeovil-town-story39.asp |work=The Yeovil Town Story |title=Part 39: Season 1983–84 |publisher=Ciderspace |accessdate=27 April 2009}} Yeovil were relegated the next season to the Isthmian League Premier Division, after which Linney contributed to two consecutive runners-up spots before they finally won the Isthmian League title and promotion back to the top level of non-league football in 1987–88.{{cite web |url=https://www.fchd.info/YEOVILT.HTM |title=Yeovil Town |work=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=27 April 2009}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/history/yeovil-town-story44.asp |work=The Yeovil Town Story |title=Part 44: Season 1987–88 Part Two |publisher=Ciderspace |accessdate=27 April 2009}} Linney left the following season to join Basingstoke Town,{{cite web |url=http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/history/yeovil-town-story45.asp |work=The Yeovil Town Story |title=Part 45: Season 1988–89 Part One |publisher=Ciderspace |accessdate=27 April 2009}} and went on to play for Weymouth and Chard Town. In recognition of his five years' service, Yeovil awarded him a testimonial match, against Bristol City at the end of the 1988–89 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/history/yeovil-town-story46.asp |work=The Yeovil Town Story |title=Part 46: Season 1988–89 Part Two |publisher=Ciderspace |accessdate=27 April 2009}}
He went on to work in the commercial department at Yeovil Town F.C., and in 2002 succeeded Alan Skirton as the club's commercial manager,{{cite news |url=http://www.myglovers.co.uk/news/How-well-do-you-know-the-Glovers-.aspx |title=How well do you know the Glovers? |date=2 October 2008 |accessdate=27 April 2009 |work=Western Gazette}} {{dead link|date=May 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=6903 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913202516/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=6903 |title=Skirton will be missed by Glovers |date=4 November 2002 |archivedate=13 September 2012 |url-status=usurped |work=NonLeague Daily}} a post he held along with the role of match day announcer until December 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.ytfc.net/news/2020/february/club-news--dave-linney-returns-as-club-ambassador/ |title=Dave Linney returns as Club Ambassador |publisher=Yeovil Town F.C. |date=28 February 2020 |accessdate=28 February 2020 |archive-date=28 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228130939/https://www.ytfc.net/news/2020/february/club-news--dave-linney-returns-as-club-ambassador/ |url-status=dead }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Linney, Dave}}
Category:Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Oxford United F.C. players
Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players
Category:Basingstoke Town F.C. players
Category:Weymouth F.C. players
Category:Chard Town F.C. players