David Phillips was in the twilight of his playing career at 37 when he signed for us in 2000, but brought a calming influence to the Boro’ side. He was intelligent on the ball and what he’d lost in pace, he made up for with his head. A highlight of his spell at Broadhall Way was his thunderous strike away at Aldershot in the FA Trophy.

David Phillips: Before Boro’

The Welsh midfielder started his career at Plymouth Argyle, breaking through into the first team and making 73 appearances before signing for Manchester City. He spent two years at Maine Road before he was on the move again – this time to Coventry City.

He played at Highfield Road for three years, which were some of the most successful in the club’s history; Phillips part of the famous FA Cup winning side of 1987. His success at Coventry didn’t go unnoticed either, with Norwich City paying a club record fee to take him to Carrow Road in 1989.

After another good spell with the Canaries, then a club on the up, the Welshman helped them finish third in the first season of the Premier League before leaving a year later to sign for Nottingham Forest. By the time he left Forest, Phillips was now approaching the end of his career. Short spells at Huddersfield and Lincoln followed, before he signed for us. And it was with us that he’d end his playing career, moving into coaching at Coventry.

Author: Matthew Kett