David Nelson

Dependable defender David Nelson spent four seasons at the Showgrounds but failed to emulate the success of his FA Cup winning and internationally capped sibling.

Born in Greenock, his family moved to Belfast at the age of five as his father sought work as a shipbuilder. Football would run through the genetics of the Nelson family – as his elder brother Jimmy would go onto win the FA Cup with Cardiff City and win four international caps for Scotland.

Davy’s early career began with Belfast junior side Clady and he quickly rose to prominence as captain of the club at the age of just 21 in the 1924/1925 campaign. It was in May 1925 that he caught the eye of the touring Cardiff City team, which already included his older brother in their ranks. He signed on for the Welsh side in August ahead of the 1925/1926 season alongside future Ballymena team-mate Joe Cassidy but failed to make a single first team appearance for the Bluebirds, as they finished 16th in the First Division.

Nelson’s progression was hindered by an unfortunate accident in March 1926 that kept him out of action until the start of the following campaign. The defender eventually returned to Ireland in search of regular football, pitching up at Dundalk in the League of Ireland in December, making 12 appearances for the Lilywhites before transferring North to Crusaders in May 1927 for the final games of the Irish League campaign.

A move to Newry Town in the summer of 1927 brought another fresh start for the now 24-year-old, and the Scot featured regularly as the border side impressed many onlookers by finishing third in the Irish League during the 1927/1928 season, the club’s highest ever league finish. The Town failed to recreate their performances the following season, and Davy found himself on the move to the league’s newcomers Ballymena in March 1929.

The move came just weeks before the Light Blues’ historic Irish Cup Final victory over Belfast Celtic, but despite making his debut in the 2-0 win over Coleraine – it came too soon to merit a place in the showpiece eleven. Nelson made seven appearances in the club’s debut campaign, all of them in the City Cup competition, which Ballymena finished runners-up to Linfield.

David played mainly as the third choice full-back behind the ever-dependable duo of Jock McNinch and Gordon McDiarmid during the 1929/1930 season as the club were beaten finalists in the Irish Cup Final to Linfield. It was only after the departure of the aforementioned McDiarmid, that Nelson fully established himself as a regular starter at the Showgrounds, making 39 appearances during the 1930/1931 campaign, and finally getting to play in an Irish Cup final after two near misses, however he would only emerge with a runners-up medal after defeat to Linfield for the second season in succession.

Despite featuring in the Gold Cup Final defeat to Coleraine in his fourth and final season at the Braid, he was dislodged in the team by new signing William Hood – who limited Nelson to just a dozen appearances during 1931/1932. Nelson would finish

The 29-year-old re-signed with Dundalk in August 1932, pairing up with Gordon McDiarmid – the player who had ironically kept him out of the Ballymena side previously. Despite breaking his wrist in October, an injury that would keep him out of the inter-league side – he was part of the Dundalk side that won their first ever league title – making 19 appearances along the way!

After just one season, Davy was on the move again within the Free State League – the final stop of his footballing career was at Dublin side Shelbourne, where injuries hindered the 1933/1934 campaign. It proved to be the final time the full-back would pull on his boots competitively in senior football.

David Nelson passed away in August 1960 in Belfast, aged 57.

Career
Clady; (Aug 1925) Cardiff City; (Dec 1926) Dundalk; (May 1927) Crusaders; (Jun 1927) Newry Town; (Mar 1929) Ballymena; (Aug 1932) Dundalk; (Aug 1933) Shelbourne

Honours
(with Ballymena)
City Cup: (runner-up) 1928/1929
Irish Cup: (finalist) 1930/1930
Gold Cup: (finalist) 1931/1932
(with Dundalk)
League of Ireland: (winner) 1932/1933