 Perkins playing forRochdale in 2007 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Philip Perkins[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1982-06-21)21 June 1982 (age 43)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Heysham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.67 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Exeter City (first-team player coach and U23s coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2007 | Morecambe | 178 | (1) |
| 2007–2008 | Rochdale | 60 | (5) |
| 2008–2011 | Colchester United | 79 | (7) |
| 2009–2010 | →Chesterfield (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2010 | →Stockport County (loan) | 22 | (0) |
| 2011–2014 | Barnsley | 91 | (2) |
| 2014–2015 | Blackpool | 65 | (0) |
| 2015–2018 | Wigan Athletic | 85 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Rochdale | 18 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Tranmere Rovers | 44 | (2) |
| 2020–2022 | AFC Fylde | 36 | (2) |
| 2022 | Bamber Bridge | 19 | (0) |
| 2024– | Exeter City | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 710 | (21) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2006 | England C | 9 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:45, 01 January 2024 (UTC) | |||
David Philip Perkins (born 21 June 1982) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as amidfielder who is first-team player coach and U23s coach atExeter City.
Perkins started his career withMorecambe, for whom he played 170 league games.
In 2007, he moved toLeague Two sideRochdale. On 17 May 2008 he scored a deflected goal from 30 yards which putRochdale level on aggregate withDarlington in a semi-final play-off, during which he was later shown ared card. Rochdale went through on penalties.[3] Rochdale appealed to his red card which was rejected by the FA, meaning he missed the League Two play-off final againstStockport County atWembley Stadium and also the first four games of the2008–09 season.[4]
Perkins signed forColchester United on 8 July 2008 for an undisclosed six-figure fee, citing the potential of another promotion push as the leading reason for his move to the U's.[5]
On 2 October 2009 Perkins signed on loan forChesterfield.
On 18 January 2010 he signed on loan forStockport on a deal until the end of the season.[6]
After becoming an outcast in the U's squad underAidy Boothroyd his career at the club looked bleak untilJohn Ward was appointed as new boss in May 2010. After regaining his first team place and making over 40 appearances Perkins was being scouted by a number of Championship clubs. At the end of the season with Colchester he won four awards: Player of the Year; Player's Player of the Year; CUSA (Colchester United Supporters' Association) Home Player of the Year and CUSA Away Player of the Year. Teammate Anthony Wordsworth said of Perkins, "He was simply amazing this season".[7]
On 7 June 2011, he rejected the opportunity to extend his deal atColchester United and subsequently signed for Championship sideBarnsley; signing a 2-year contract with the Tykes.[8] He had previously worked with ex Barnsley managerKeith Hill at Rochdale. He made his debut on 6 August 2011, in a 0–0 draw againstNottingham Forest.[9] On 9 April 2012 he scored his first goal for Barnsley, coming in a 1–1 draw away toBlackpool.[10] The goal was described as a "face volley" by football correspondent Conor Breen.
His bright blonde hair, similar to that of London MayorBoris Johnson's, led toCharlton Athletic supporters nicknaming him 'Barnsley Boris' after Barnsley's visit toThe Valley in October 2012.
Due to his consistently solid performances throughout the season in midfield, he received the Supporters' Player of the Year Award for the 2012–13 Season.
The energetic midfielder penned an extension to his contract in August, 2012, keeping him at the club until at least the summer of 2014.[11]
On 17 January 2014, Perkins signed an 18-month deal with Blackpool on a free transfer.[12] He was released in May 2015.[13]
On 20 May 2015, Perkins signed a one-year deal with newly relegated sideWigan Athletic after his release fromBlackpool.[14]
David Perkins scored his only goal and most memorable in his career whilst playing for Wigan against his former team Blackpool, scoring the 3rd goal in a 3–1 victory.
Wigan entered into contract talks with him at the end of the 2017–18 season.[15]
On 24 May 2018, it was announced that Perkins had signed a new two-year deal withRochdale,[16] which would be effective from July 1, moving fromWigan Athletic where he spent 3 years. It is Perkins' second spell at the club, after a season long stay in the 2007–08 season.[17]
Speaking about the move, Perkins said "I've had a good three years at Wigan. We got promoted during my first year, relegated during my second and then promoted this season. I've had some great times there and I've enjoyed every minute of it. The fans have been unbelievable with me, all the staff and the Chairman, so I can't thank them enough."[18]
On 5 January 2019, Perkins joinedTranmere Rovers on an 18-month contract from Rochdale.[19]
On 16 August 2020, Perkins signed forAFC Fylde.[20] He was released on 21 May 2022.
On 2 August 2022, Perkins signed forBamber Bridge.[21]
On 1 January 2024, Perkins was an unused substitute for Exeter's League One fixture away at Reading due to a shortage of available first-team players. He was given the number 18 shirt. Perkins would feature in an Exeter City match during the 2024–25 season, coming on as a 67th minute substitute in aEFL Trophy home fixture againstTottenham Hotspur; consequently, he became their oldest player at the age of 42. Exeter City won the match 2–0.[22]
On 10 November 2022, Perkins was appointed first team coach and Under 23s manager atExeter City.[23]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Morecambe | 2000–01[24] | Conference National | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2001–02[25] | Conference National | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| 2002–03[26] | Conference National | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 2003–04[27] | Conference National | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
| 2004–05[28] | Conference National | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| 2005–06[29] | Conference National | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[d] | 0 | 41 | 1 | |
| 2006–07[30] | Conference National | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| Total | 178 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 199 | 1 | ||
| Rochdale | 2006–07[30] | League Two | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 2007–08[31] | League Two | 42 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1[a] | 0 | 45 | 6 | |
| Total | 60 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 6 | ||
| Colchester United | 2008–09[32] | League One | 38 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 1 | 43 | 6 |
| 2009–10[33] | League One | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2010–11[34] | League One | 36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 1 | |
| Total | 79 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 91 | 8 | ||
| Chesterfield (loan) | 2009–10[33] | League Two | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Stockport County (loan) | 2009–10[33] | League One | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Barnsley | 2011–12[35] | Championship | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 35 | 1 | |
| 2012–13[36] | Championship | 35 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14[37] | Championship | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | ||
| Total | 91 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 2 | ||
| Blackpool | 2013–14[37] | Championship | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[38] | Championship | 45 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 47 | 0 | ||
| Total | 65 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 0 | ||
| Wigan Athletic | 2015–16[39] | League One | 45 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| 2016–17[40] | Championship | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 29 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18[41] | League One | 13 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| Total | 81 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 98 | 1 | ||
| Rochdale | 2018–19[42] | League One | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Tranmere Rovers | 2018–19[42] | League Two | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[f] | 0 | 20 | 2 |
| 2019–20[43] | League One | 27 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| Total | 44 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 2 | ||
| Exeter City | 2024–25[44] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 662 | 19 | 34 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 730 | 21 | ||
Wigan Athletic
Tranmere Rovers
Individual
