David Seal

David Seal (born 26 January 1972) is a former Australian soccer player who is currently retired. He played as a striker.

David Seal
Personal information
Full name David Seal
Date of birth (1972-01-26) 26 January 1972
Place of birth Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1990 Sydney Croatia 31 (17)
1990–1992 Marconi Fairfield 47 (28)
1992–1993 Sydney Olympic 23 (10)
1993–1994 Eendracht Aalst
1994–1997 Bristol City 51 (10)
1997–1999 Northampton Town 46 (13)
1999–2000 Northern Spirit 20 (9)
2000–2006 Mangotsfield United 236 (166)
2006 Yate Town
2006–2007 Mangotsfield United 10 (4)
2007 Bitton 2 (1)
2008–2010 Melksham Town 23 (3)
National team‡
1990–1991 Australia U-20
1991–1992 Australia U-23
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 September 2009
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21 September 2008

Career

Seal started his career in the old National Soccer League (NSL) in Australia where he played for Sydney Croatia, Marconi Fairfield and Sydney Olympic and was the NSL top goal scorer two years in a row in the 1989–90 season with Sydney Croatia scoring 15 goals, and the 1990–91 season with Marconi Fairfield scoring 19 goals.

He moved to Europe in 1993, joining Belgian side Eendracht Aalst in Belgium. He had a trial with Norwich City while at Eendracht but no contract was offered. In October 1994 he moved to England, joining Bristol City for a fee of £80,000. He moved to Northampton Town on loan in August 1997, scoring four times in six league games during his loan spell. Such was his form that the move was made permanent, Seal costing the Cobblers £90,000, on 12 September 1997.

Seal finished his first season with Northampton as their leading goalscoring, with 14 goals in league and cup games. He was also the leading goalscorer for their reserve side with 12 goals in 10 games. He remained with Northampton until May 1999 when he was released after Northampton's relegation to Division Three.

He returned to Australia to play for Northern Spirit in the 1999–2000 NSL season where he scored 9 goals in 20 appearances. However, after just one season Seal returned to England where he joined Mangotsfield United in July 2000. In the 2001–02 season, he scored 11 goals in the FA Cup for Mangotsfield, earning him an award as the FA Cup's leading goalscorer. Seal scored 166 goals in 236 appearances for Mangotsfield, before joining local rivals Yate Town in July 2006.[1]

Seal's stay with Yate lasted only four months, returning to Mangotsfield United in December 2006.[2] However, his return to Mangotsfield was a short one as in March 2007, he joined Western Football League Premier Division side Bitton where he only made two appearances.

In September 2008, Seal joined Western Football League Premier Division side Melksham Town as part of the coaching staff and as a player.[3]

International career

Seal represented the Australian Under 20's which finished fourth at the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship in Portugal, where he played all six games. He scored three goals in total which included one goal in a 2–0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in the first round, scored the only goal in a 1–1 draw with Syria in the quarter finals which Australia won 5–4 after a penalty shoot-out, and scored the only goal in the 1–1 draw against USSR in the third place play-off match – which Australia lost after a penalty shoot-out 5–4. He also competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Spain for the Australian U23 team which finished fourth, playing in five games.

Honours

Mangotsfield United

Personal honours

  • NSL top scorer: 1989–90 with Sydney Croatia – 15 goals
  • NSL top scorer: 1990–91 with Marconi Fairfield – 19 goals
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References
  1. Seal's off Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Seal comes back 'home' Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Melksham Snap Up Former Bristol City Star (from This Is Wiltshire)
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