David Unsworth - Defender
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Let it be said from the start: David Unsworth's transfer to Villa was a joke, maybe even an intentional one from David's point of view. He set a new record by staying exactly 11 days with the club before moving on to Everton.
David Unsworth started his football career at Everton as a trainee, the way they all start. His first professional playing time was in April 1992, when he came on as a sub and equalised to 3-3 vs Tottenham. However, this sensational debut wasn't enough to charm his way into the starting eleven, making only 11 appearances during the next two seasons.
After this, new manager Mike Walker's decision to move Unsworth into the central defence proved crucial to the latter's career. He suddenly showed skill almost equal to the great Aston Villa legend Paul McGrath. Superb timing, well placed tackles ... his future looked very promising indeed. Enter Terry Venables, then English coach, and in 1995 Unsworth made his England debut. All this contributed to make him Everton's Player of the Year in the 1994/95 season.
However, his form mysteriously deteriorated during the following season, and in the end, he was relegated to the subs at Goodison Park. He made 34 appearances during that season, but when West approached, Everton didn't consider him inexpendable. He and £1 million went West Ham's way, while Danny Williamson came the other way in August 1997. He played a total of 82 games for Everton, scoring six goals.
His West Ham career proved lucrative if not incredible, and after one season there, his value was judged to £3 million. This was what Aston Villa paid for his signature, a four year contract being the outcome.
Davis was undoubtedly brought in as a replacement for the "money-happy" Steve Staunton, and he happily spoke about how much he looked forward to play for such a big club. He also signed a big four year contract.
One week later, the entire England were utterly baffled
as David Unsworth had signed for Everton, "the only club he ever wanted
to play for". No time for time wasters! Unsworth left without touching
a ball for Villa, except for one friendly match. Rumour had it that his wife had had her say in the matter, and he got a lot of banter in the dressing room for it in his last few days at Aston Villa. Quite deservedly, most people would reckon.
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Until the end of his Aston Villa career |
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Apperances has substitutions in brackets, i.e. the
games when he came on as a sub and didn't start on the pitch. All the stats
include cup games. |
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| Season | Club | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998/1999 | Aston Villa | 0 | 0 |
| Villa record | 0 | 0 | |
| Total record | ? | ? | |