| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Martin Norris[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1981-02-20)20 February 1981 (age 44)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Stamford, England[3] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[4] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Daisy Hill | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1999 | Stamford | ||
| 1999–2000 | Boston United | 26 | (10) |
| 2000–2002 | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | →Boston United (loan) | 5 | (4) |
| 2002 | →Hull City (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2002 | →Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 2002–2008 | Plymouth Argyle | 219 | (26) |
| 2008–2011 | Ipswich Town | 106 | (13) |
| 2011–2012 | Portsmouth | 40 | (8) |
| 2012–2015 | Leeds United | 30 | (3) |
| 2015 | Peterborough United | 8 | (0) |
| 2015 | Yeovil Town | 1 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Blackpool | 38 | (1) |
| 2016 | Leatherhead | 1 | (0) |
| 2017 | Salford City | 3 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Shaw Lane | ||
| 2018 | Boston United | 1 | (0) |
| 2018–2024 | Lancaster City | 124 | (29) |
| 2024–2025 | Workington | 10 | (0) |
| 2025– | Daisy Hill | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:40, 5 July 2025 (UTC) | |||
David Martin Norris (born 20 February 1981) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as amidfielder forNorth West Counties League Division One North clubDaisy Hill.
Born inStamford, he has played inthe Football League forHull City,Plymouth Argyle,Ipswich Town,Portsmouth,Leeds United,Peterborough United,Yeovil Town andBlackpool. Norris has made more than 400 Football League appearances.
Having started his career atSouthern League Midland Division clubStamford, Norris joinedBoston United in 1999,[5] who were playingone league higher at the time.[6] He scored ten goals in 26 league appearances in hisfirst season and one more in five cup matches.[5] Boston won promotion to theFootball Conference that season as Southern League Premier Division champions.[7] Norris was transferred toFirst Division clubBolton Wanderers for a fee in excess of £50,000 in January 2000, which was a record transfer fee received by Boston at the time.[5] He returned to Boston on loan in December and scored four goals in five league appearances.[5] In March 2002, Norris joinedFootball League Third Division clubHull City on loan, where he played in six matches and scored once. In two and a half years with Bolton, he made one appearance in theFA Cup and four in theLeague Cup.
Norris initially joinedFootball League Second Division clubPlymouth Argyle on loan for a month in October 2002.[8] He scored the decisive goal on his debut in a 1–0 win atCrewe Alexandra,[9] and made seven league appearances before joining the club permanently for an undisclosed fee in December.[10][11] Argyle won promotion to theEFL Championship as Second Division champions in 2004 with Norris scoring five goals in 45 league appearances that season.[10] He won theclub's Player of the Year award in 2006 and, after more than five years at the club, Norris had made 243 appearances in all competitions, scoring 28 goals.[10]
In the January 2008 transfer window Ipswich Town had two bids rejected by the Plymouth board despite Norris handing in a transfer request. Ipswich lodged one final, increased bid which was finally accepted after brokering a deal with Bolton that would allow Plymouth to receive more than the 50% Norris' clause initially gave them. Norris finally signed for Ipswich Town on 31 January 2008 for an undisclosed fee, signing a contract until 2011. He scored his first goal for the club in the 1–1 draw with Southampton away from home.
In November 2008, Norris was heavily criticised for a controversial goal celebration against Blackpool, interpreted as a show of support for jailed friend and former Plymouth goalkeeperLuke McCormick.[12] McCormick was returning from Norris' wedding in June 2008 when he fell asleep at the wheel due to the effects ofalcohol and caused the deaths of two young boys.[12] He was sentenced to seven years and four months prison time in October of that year.[13]
The family of the bereaved took offence at Norris' gesture and he was subsequently fined and warned by Ipswich.[14] He was once again caught out when he told the Ipswich website[15] he had not intended the celebration as a show of support to Luke McCormick and the statement was later changed by the club, adding further to the controversy. The statement now reads that the celebration was in fact a message to Luke McCormick. Later that week it was revealed that Norris was fined £25,000 by Ipswich and would make a face-to-face apology to Phil and Amanda Peak (the parents of the two boys).[16]
Eventually, In August 2010, Norris became theIpswich Town captain.[17] Norris was handed the captain's armband by ManagerRoy Keane after the departure of the then captainJonathan Walters to Stoke City.[18] In the summer of 2011 Norris turned down a new contract extension atIpswich Town, with the club only prepared to offer him a two-year extension, a year short of the midfielders demands, with rival Championship clubLeeds United heavily linked with signing him on a free transfer.[19]
On 15 June 2011, Norris signed forPortsmouth on a free transfer after turning down a new two-year deal with Ipswich.[20] On 6 August, in his debut league appearance for Portsmouth, he scored againstMiddlesbrough in a game which ended 2–2.[21] He scored his second goal for Portsmouth in a match away atWest Ham United, which ended 4–3 to the home team. At first it was believed thatBenjani Mwaruwari had scored the goal, but replays later showed that Norris had already put the ball over the line when Benjani headed in the rebound.[22]
His first goal at Fratton Park came in a 2–0 home victory againstBarnsley. With the match goalless,Karim Rekik headed the ball down to Norris, who controlled and then volleyed it into the net from the edge of the penalty area.[23] On 7 April 2012, Norris scored a spectacular equalising goal against arch-rivals Southampton in the 93rd minute to secure Portsmouth a point.
In July 2012, Norris agreed the deal to join Leeds United from Portsmouth, to join his former teammatesJason Pearce,Luke Varney andJamie Ashdown.[24] Norris was allocated the number 19 shirt for the 2012–13 season on 3 August.[25]
Norris made his competitive début for Leeds in the first game of the season againstShrewsbury Town in the League Cup on 11 August. Norris was also named the Leeds United captain for the match and also scored his first goal in the same game.[26] Norris made his league début for Leeds in their 1–0 victory againstWolverhampton Wanderers.[27] On 7 September, Norris was ruled out for a month after picking up a thigh injury,[28] as a result of the injury, Leeds signedMichael Tonge on loan to help cover his absence.[29] Norris made his first start since returning from injury againstCharlton Athletic on 23 October, in the same game Norris scored his second goal of the season which was his first league goal for Leeds.[30] Norris scored his third goal of the season for Leeds againstHuddersfield Town to help earn Leeds a 4–2 victory on 1 December.[31]
Norris missed the final three games of the season under new managerBrian McDermott due to a knee injury that required surgery,[32] and on 15 August 2013, with Leeds needing to raise finances to help fund signings, he was made available for transfer alongside teammatesEl Hadji Diouf andAdam Drury.[33]
Norris was out of favour throughout the2013–2014 season underMcDermott, making only one appearance in theLeague Cup.[34] He featured in thedevelopment squad,[35] but was also hampered by another knee injury that kept him out over the winter period.[36][37][38]
Norris made his first appearance for Leeds in over a year in the last game of Head CoachDave Hockaday againstBradford City in theLeague Cup, providing an assist for strikerMatt Smith who opened the scoring in a 2–1 defeat on 27 August 2014.[39]
He was finally released by Leeds United on 2 February 2015, when his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[40]
Norris joined League One side Peterborough United on a short-term contract on 13 February 2015, until the end of the 2014–15 season. He was allocated the number 23 shirt for the club.
On 21 August 2015, Norris signed for League Two sideYeovil Town on non-contract terms, linking up with his former Plymouth managerPaul Sturrock.[41] He made his only appearance in the 2–0 defeat againstOxford United, on 29 August 2015, and left the club on 1 September 2015.[42]
Norris joinedBlackpool on 3 September 2015, on a contract until the end of the season.[43] He scored his first and only goal for Blackpool in a 5–0 win overScunthorpe United on 16 January 2016.[44]
In September 2016 he signed for non-leagueLeatherhead.[45]
In February 2017 he signed for non-leagueSalford City.[46]
In August 2017, Norris joinedShaw Lane.[47]
In September 2018, 18 years after initially leaving the club, Norris returned toBoston United.[48]
In December 2018 Norris signed forNorthern Premier League clubLancaster City. His first appearance was on 1 December atNorth Ferriby United but North Ferriby left the league, with their record expunged in March 2019, so Norris's debut in real terms was the following week, when he appeared as a substitute in a home game against Gainsborough Trinity.
On 4 July 2025, Norris joinedNorth West Counties Division One North sideDaisy Hill.[49]
Norris qualifies to play for theRepublic of Ireland, through his mother, who has family inKildare. Though he has never been selected to play for them, he was contacted bySteve Staunton (Ireland's former manager) about playing.[50]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Boston United | 1999–2000 | Southern League Premier Division | 17 | 8 | 1 | 0 | ― | 0 | 0 | 18 | 8 | |
| Bolton Wanderers | 2000–01[51] | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001–02[52] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ― | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Boston United (loan) | 2000–01[51] | Conference | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ― | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | |
| Total | 22 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 12 | ||
| Hull City (loan) | 2001–02[52] | Third Division | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2002–03[53] | Second Division | 33 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 6 |
| 2003–04[54] | Second Division | 45 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 48 | 5 | |
| 2004–05[55] | Championship | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ― | 35 | 3 | ||
| 2005–06[56] | Championship | 45 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ― | 47 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07[57] | Championship | 41 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ― | 47 | 7 | ||
| 2007–08[58] | Championship | 27 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ― | 30 | 5 | ||
| Total | 226 | 27 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 243 | 28 | ||
| Ipswich Town | 2007–08[58] | Championship | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ― | 9 | 1 | |
| 2008–09[59] | Championship | 37 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ― | 41 | 3 | ||
| 2009–10[60] | Championship | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ― | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2010–11[61] | Championship | 36 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | ― | 43 | 11 | ||
| Total | 106 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 16 | ||
| Portsmouth | 2011–12[62] | Championship | 40 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ― | 42 | 8 | |
| Leeds United | 2012–13[63] | Championship | 30 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ― | 34 | 4 | |
| 2013–14[64] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ― | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15[65] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ― | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 30 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 4 | ||
| Peterborough United | 2014–15[65] | League One | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Yeovil Town | 2015–16[66] | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Blackpool | 2015–16[66] | League Two | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 |
| Lancaster City | 2018–19[67] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | |
| 2019–20[68] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 32 | 11 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[b] | 0 | 36 | 11 | ||
| 2020–21[69] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 8 | 3 | ||
| 2021–22[70] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23[71] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 34 | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 1 | 40 | 8 | ||
| 2023–24[72] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 30 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | 4[d] | 1 | 37 | 7 | ||
| Total | 124 | 29 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 143 | 31 | ||
| Workington | 2024–25[73] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| Career total | 611 | 95 | 29 | 1 | 22 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 675 | 102 | ||
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