Dave Bamber

John David Bamber (born 1 February 1959) is an English former professional footballer. He played for nine clubs during a fifteen-year career. Over half of his 148 goals in the Football League were scored during his three spells with Blackpool.

Career Born in Prescot, Lancashire, Bamber played for Leicester University and St. Helens Town in youth and junior football. Bamber began his professional career at Blackpool in 1979. His starting debut came on 29 December 1979, in a loss at Chester City. He scored his first goal for the Seasiders on 7 April 1980, in a league encounter against Carlisle United at Bloomfield Road. During the next four years of struggle, Bamber scored 36 goals in 100 games in all competitions under four different managers. Coventry City came in for his services prior to the 1983–84 season. Bamber moved to Walsall in 1984, before a short stay at Portsmouth in 1984.

In 1985, he joined Swedish side Trelleborgs FF, making just four league appearances, scoring one goal, before moving back to England to play for Swindon Town later that same year. In two years with the Robins he made 108 league appearances, scoring 31 goals.

In 1988, he joined Watford with whom he made 18 league appearances and scored three goals before moving to Stoke City later that same year. In 1989, he joined Hull City, before returning to Blackpool in 1990 to bring his fifteen-year playing career to a close. He was re-signed by the Seasiders initially on loan, in December 1990, by the departing Graham Carr, who was immediately replaced by his assistant, Billy Ayre. "I signed for Graham Carr on the Thursday and got on the coach to go down to Hereford to find out that he'd been sacked," Bamber explained in 2012."Billy Ayre: Blackpool to honour promotion-winning boss" – BBC Sport, 2 October 2012 "Nobody seemed to know what was going on. Billy Ayre got on the coach further down the M6." A month later, on 5 January 1991, shortly before kick-off in an FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur, new Seasiders manager Billy Ayre agreed to pay Hull £50,000 for Bamber, although Bamber claims it was half that amount.

In his second spell at Blackpool, Bamber played at Wembley twice in successive seasons (1990–91 and 1991–92), both in the play-off finals, and both of which went to penalty shoot-outs. In the first final, against Torquay United, Bamber put his spot-kick wide of Gareth Howells' left-hand post, handing promotion to the Tangerines' south-coast opponents. Following this loss, the Gulls named their fanzine Bamber's Right Foot, in mockery of the striker's miss.

The following year, however, Blackpool were victorious in the same manner against Scunthorpe United and were promoted to the new Division Two. Bamber, who played despite needing an operation on his knee (preserving his record of being an ever-present throughout the season), scored Blackpool's normal-time goal. He did not partake in the penalty shoot-out. A persistent pelvic injury forced Bamber to retire in 1994. Blackpool's owner Owen Oyston shortlisted Bamber as a candidate to replace Billy Ayre as manager the same year, but Sam Allardyce was ultimately selected.

Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame Bamber was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006. Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Bamber is in the 1990s.

Personal life Bamber is married to Joanne and has two daughters and a son.

Post-retirement After retiring from football, Bamber remained in Blackpool, becoming a property developer.

Career statistics Source:

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBlackpool 1979–80Third Division71100000811980–81Third Division1530000211741981–82Fourth Division381551213048171982–83Fourth Division26102144003215Total812982655110037Coventry City1983–84First Division193102100224Walsall1983–84Third Division1030000001031984–85Third Division104003000134Total207003000237Portsmouth1983–84Second Division4100000041Trelleborgs FF1985Allsvenskan4100000041Swindon Town1985–86Fourth Division2390010002491986–87Third Division429333410458201987–88Second Division41133263505518Total106316510715413747Watford1988–89Second Division183002120224Stoke City1988–89Second Division2363200002681989–90Second Division202002011233Total4383220114911Hull City1989–90Second Division1930000001931990–91Second Division92002000112Total285002000305Blackpool 1990–91Fourth Division231710004028171991–92Fourth Division422621465253351992–93Second Division241300001025131993–94Second Division2240033102671994–95Second Division2000200040Total11360319911213672Career Total43614821103623348527189

A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, Football League Group Cup, Football League play-offs, Football League Trophy and Full Members Cup.

Honours Swindon Town Football League Fourth Division: 1985–86 Football League Third Division play-offs: 1987

Blackpool Football League Fourth Division play-offs: 1992

Individual PFA Team of the Year: 1991–92 Fourth Division

References

Dave Bamber

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