David Riley

David Sidney Riley (born 8 December 1960) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder and striker, making 190 league appearances in a nine-year career in the Football League, scoring 40 goals. He began his career at Nottingham Forest in 1983, and had loan spells at Darlington and Peterborough United, before joining Port Vale for £20,000 in October 1987. In March 1990 he was sold on to Peterborough United for £40,000, and helped the club to two successive promotions into the Second Division. He later played for Kettering Town, Mount Albert-Ponsonby (in New Zealand), Boston United, and King's Lynn. Career Nottingham Forest Riley played for Shepshed Charterhouse and Keyworth United, before leaving his job as a sales representative to turn professional with Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest at the age of 23 in June 1983. Clough had seen him play in a reserve team game and said "son, I don't give a fuck how old are you, if you can score goals like that". He had been recommended to Forest by goalkeeping coach and former Shepshed manager Alan Hill. Riley played 12 First Division games for the club between April 1984 and 1987, scoring two goals. He tore his cruciate ligament in 1985–86 pre-season and was out of action for 18 months. He was loaned out to Darlington in February 1987, and played six Third Division games for Cyril Knowles' side, scoring two goals. He joined Fourth Division side Peterborough United on loan in 1987, and played twelve league games under Noel Cantwell, scoring two goals. Peterborough tried to sign him but were unable to as the club headed for administration.