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{{short description|English association football player}}
{{Infobox Football biography 2
{{about||the Native American environmentalist and artist|David Moses Bridges|the mathematical physicist|David Brydges}}
| playername = David Bridges
{{EngvarB|date=June 2013}}
| image =
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
| fullname =
{{Infobox football biography
| dateofbirth = {{Birth date and age|1982|9|22|df=y}}
| cityofbirth = [[Huntingdon]]
| name = David Bridges
| countryofbirth = [[England]]
| image = David Bridges 03-12-11.png
| image_size = 175
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}<ref name="David Bridges profile">{{cite news
| caption = Bridges playing for [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]] in 2011
| title = David Bridges profile
| fullname = David Stephen Bridges<ref name="PFA 80">{{cite book
| last = Hugman
| first = Barry J.
| title = The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005
| publisher = Queen Anne Press
| year = 2005
| page = 80
| isbn = 1-85291-665-6 }}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|9|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Huntingdon]], England<ref name="David Bridges all time playing career">{{cite news
| title = David Bridges all time playing career
| url = https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=30243
| publisher = Soccerbase
| access-date = 16 August 2009
| archive-date = 1 October 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071001192025/http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=30243
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}<ref name="David Bridges – ESPN">{{cite news
| title = David Bridges – ESPN
| url = http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=19438&cc=5739
| url = http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=19438&cc=5739
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103080547/http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=19438&cc=5739
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 3 January 2013
| publisher = ESPN Soccernet
| publisher = ESPN Soccernet
| date = 2009-08-16
| access-date = 16 August 2009
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref>
}}</ref>
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = [[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]]
| currentclub =
| clubnumber = 18
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2000&ndash;2001
| youthyears1 = 1998–2002
| youthclubs1 = [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
| youthclubs1 = [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
| years1 = 2002&ndash;2004
| years1 = 2002–2004
| years2 = 2005
| years2 = 2004
| years3 = 2005&ndash;2007
| years3 = 2005
| years4 = 2007&ndash;2008
| years4 = 2005
| years5 = 2008&ndash;
| years5 = 2005–2007
| years6 = 2007–2008
| years7 = 2008–2011
| years8 = 2011–2012
| years9 = 2012–2013
| years10 = 2013
| years11 = 2013–2014
| years12 = 2014–2016
| years13 = 2017–2018
| clubs1 = [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
| clubs1 = [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
| clubs2 = [[Histon F.C.|Histon]]
| clubs2 = [[FK Rīga]]
| clubs3 = [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
| clubs3 = [[Braintree Town F.C.|Braintree Town]]
| clubs4 = [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]
| clubs4 = [[Histon F.C.|Histon]]
| clubs5 = [[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]]
| clubs5 = [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
| clubs6 = [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]
| clubs7 = [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]]
| clubs8 = [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]
| clubs9 = [[Chelmsford City F.C.|Chelmsford City]]
| clubs10 = [[Bury Town F.C.|Bury Town]]
| clubs11 = [[Brackley Town F.C.|Brackley Town]]
| clubs12 = [[King's Lynn Town F.C.|King's Lynn Town]]
| clubs13 = [[St Neots Town F.C.|St Neots Town]]
| caps1 = 45
| caps1 = 45
| caps2 = 8
| caps2 = 0
| caps3 = 66
| caps3 = 4
| caps4 = 39
| caps4 = 11
| caps5 = 20
| caps5 = 66
| caps6 = 23
| caps7 = 62
| caps8 = 35
| caps9 = 28
| caps10 = 0
| caps11 = 15
| caps12 = 75
| caps13 = 22
| goals1 = 4
| goals1 = 4
| goals2 = 2
| goals2 = 0
| goals3 = 8
| goals3 = 0
| goals4 = 11
| goals4 = 1
| goals5 = 3
| goals5 = 8
| goals6 = 11
| goals7 = 7
| goals8 = 3
| goals9 = 1
| goals10 = 0
| goals11 = 2
| goals12 = 8
| goals13 = 3
| totalcaps = 386
| totalgoals = 48
| nationalyears1 = 2006
| nationalyears1 = 2006
| nationalteam1 = [[England C national football team|England C]]
| nationalteam1 = [[England C national football team|England C]]
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| pcupdate = 22:09, 28 November 2009 (UTC)
| club-update = 22:11, 14 August 2018 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 22:09, 16 August 2009 (UTC)
}}
}}
'''David Stephen Bridges''' (born 22 September 1982) is an English former professional [[Association football|footballer]]. He played as a [[midfielder]].


Bridges started his career with local club [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]], progressing through the club's [[youth system]] and eventually breaking into the first-team in 2001. He spent three seasons at Cambridge, before being released at the end of the [[2003–04 in English football|2003–04 season]] after failing to agree terms on a new contract. Bridges had a brief spell in [[Latvia]] playing for [[FK Rīga]], before returning to England to play four games for [[Braintree Town F.C.|Braintree Town]] in January 2005. He joined [[Histon F.C.|Histon]] in March 2005, playing for the club until the end of the season. He left Histon at the end of the season, and subsequently earned himself a one-year contract to rejoin Cambridge United in July 2005. He played regularly for the club for two seasons, but was released again in 2007.
'''David Bridges''' (born [[22 September]], [[1982]] in [[Huntingdon]]) is an [[England|English]] footballer who plays for [[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]] as a [[midfielder]].

Bridges then joined [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]] ahead of the [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08 season]], helping the club achieve promotion from the [[National League North|Conference North]] to the [[National League (division)|Conference Premier]] in his first season at the club. At the end of the season he rejected a contract offer from Kettering and joined [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]] on a free transfer. In his first season at the [[Hertfordshire]] club, he helped the team to [[FA Trophy]] success, as well as helping the club earn promotion to [[English Football League|the Football League]] for the first time in the club's history the following season. He was also part of the squad that helped Stevenage earn back-to-back promotions during the [[2010–11 in English football|2010–11 season]]. Ahead of the [[2011–12 in English football|2011–12 season]], Bridges re-joined Conference Premier club Kettering Town. He left the club after one season, and spent a year at [[Chelmsford City F.C.|Chelmsford City]], before signing for Bury Town in May 2013. He had a brief spell at [[Brackley Town F.C.|Brackley Town]], before spending two seasons combining playing and coaching at [[King's Lynn Town F.C.|King's Lynn Town]].

He initially announced his retirement from playing in May 2016 and joined [[St Neots Town F.C.|St Neots Town]] as first-team coach a year later, where he began playing again for the [[2017–18 in English football|2017–18 season]]. He left St Neots Town in August 2018, taking up the position of head of coaching at League Two club Lincoln City. Bridges also earned one [[Cap (sport)|cap]] for the [[England C national football team|England C]] team.

==Early life==
Born in [[Huntingdon]], Cambridgeshire, Bridges attended [[St Peter's School, Huntingdon|St Peter's School]] in Huntingdon.<ref name="David Bridges – In Focus"/><ref name="Player profiles – David Bridges">{{cite book | title = Stevenage Borough vs Salisbury City matchday programme | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | year = 2008 | page = 14 }}</ref>


==Club career==
==Club career==
===Cambridge United===
Bridges played for local team [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]], whom he joined at the age of eight, and he progressed through the club's [[youth system]] before signing his first professional contract in February 2002.<ref name="David Bridges all time playing career"/> He broke into the first-team towards the end of the [[2001–02 in English football|2001–02 season]], making his debut as a [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] in a 1–0 defeat to [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] at the [[Abbey Stadium]] on 16 March 2002.<ref name="Cambridge 0–1 Huddersfield">{{cite news| title = Cambridge 0–1 Huddersfield| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1872915.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 16 March 2002| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> He played six further games in the same season,<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2001/2002 player appearances">{{cite news| title = Cambridge Utd 2001/2002 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483| website = Soccerbase| access-date = 16 August 2009| archive-date = 10 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070210175937/http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483| url-status = dead}}</ref> scoring his first goal for Cambridge in a 2–1 home victory against [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] on 13 April 2002.<ref name="Cambridge 2–1 Tranmere">{{cite news| title = Cambridge 2–1 Tranmere| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1923896.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 13 April 2002| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> Bridges played regularly in the opening half of the [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03 season]], playing 25 times and scoring once in a 3–0 victory against [[York City F.C.|York City]].<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2002/2003 player appearances">{{cite news| title = Cambridge Utd 2002/2003 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483| publisher = Soccerbase| access-date = 16 August 2009| archive-date = 10 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070210175937/http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="Cambridge 3–0 York">{{cite news| title = Cambridge 3–0 York| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/2257872.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 21 September 2002| access-date = 5 August 2010}}</ref> A "persistent" ankle injury cut his run in the first-team short, and he did not play from February through to the remainder of the season.<ref name="U's hit by Bridges blow">{{cite news| title = U's hit by Bridges blow| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/3004622.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 19 June 2003| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> He returned to the first-team in a 1–0 defeat to [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] on 14 October 2003,<ref name="Wycombe 1–0 Cambridge">{{cite news| title = Wycombe 1–0 Cambridge| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3187248.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 14 October 2003| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> and played a further 22 times for the club throughout the [[2003–04 in English football|2003–04 season]].<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2003/2004 player appearances">{{cite news| title = Cambridge Utd 2003/2004 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483| website = Soccerbase| access-date = 16 August 2009| archive-date = 10 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070210175937/http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483| url-status = dead}}</ref> Bridges left Cambridge at the end of the season after failing to agree a contract extension. On leaving Cambridge, Bridges said "I was offered a contract that was almost a kick in the teeth after the time I had been at the club when players were coming in from all over the place who did not care about the club. They were getting paid five or six times what I was offered, and I thought it was probably time to move on".<ref name="David Bridges – In Focus">{{cite news| title = David Bridges – In Focus| url = http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/page/FeaturedPlayer/0,,10423~802423,00.html| publisher = Cambridge United F.C.| date = 15 March 2006| access-date = 5 August 2010| archive-date = 13 March 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313182817/http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/page/FeaturedPlayer/0,,10423~802423,00.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> During his three seasons with the club, Bridges made 55 appearances in all competitions, scoring four times.<ref name="David Bridges all time playing career"/>


===Journeyman===
Born in [[Huntingdon]], [[Cambridgeshire]], Bridges began his career with local side [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]], progressing through the club's [[youth system]].<ref name="David Bridges all time playing career">{{cite news
Bridges trialled at a number of clubs before the start of the [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05 season]], including [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] and [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]], without successfully securing a deal.<ref name="Chesterfield warn Bridges">{{cite news| title = Chesterfield warn Bridges| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/3875755.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 8 July 2004| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref><ref name="Cobblers look at trio">{{cite news| title = Cobblers look at trio| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/northampton_town/3576150.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 18 August 2004| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> He also spent the majority of the close season in the [[United States]] training with two professional American football clubs, before realising it was not financially viable to move to America on a permanent basis.<ref name="David Bridges – In Focus"/> Bridges struggled to find a club ahead of the 2004–05 season, and took up an offer to play for [[FK Rīga]] in Latvia.<ref name="David Bridges – In Focus"/> He suffered a fractured foot just ten days after signing for the club, and did not make any appearances for the Latvian club.<ref name="David Bridges – In Focus"/> Despite the injury, he spent three months in Latvia before returning to England to "assess his options".<ref name="David Bridges – In Focus"/> After returning to England in November 2004 for rehabilitation at [[Lilleshall Hall#Sports centre|Lilleshall]], he began part-time training with Cambridgeshire club [[Histon F.C.|Histon]] in January 2005.<ref name="Neil's goal keeps title hopes alive">{{cite news| title = Neil's goal keeps title hopes alive| url = http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_sport_football/displayarticle.asp?id=226435| newspaper = Cambridge News| date = 23 March 2005| access-date = 16 August 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| title = David Bridges all time playing career
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=30243
| publisher = Soccerbase
| date =
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> He broke into the [[first-team]] towards the latter stages of the [[2001-02 in English football|2001-02]] season, making his debut as a [[substitute]] in a 1-0 defeat against [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] at the [[Abbey Stadium]].<ref name="Cambridge 0-1 Huddersfield">{{cite news
| title = Cambridge 0-1 Huddersfield
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1872915.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2002-03-16
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> He played six further games in the same season,<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2001/2002 player appearances">{{cite news
| title = Cambridge Utd 2001/2002 player appearances
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483
| publisher = Soccerbase
| date =
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> scoring his first goal for the [[Cambridgeshire]] outfit in a 2-1 home win against [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]].<ref name="Cambridge 2-1 Tranmere">{{cite news
| title = Cambridge 2-1 Tranmere
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1923896.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2002-04-13
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref>


He signed for [[Braintree Town F.C.|Braintree Town]] on a short-term contract shortly after training with Histon, making his debut for the club in a 2–1 home victory against [[Slough Town F.C.|Slough Town]] a day after joining the club.<ref name="Braintree Town 2–1 Slough Town">{{cite news| title = Braintree Town 2–1 Slough Town| url = http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2004/teamsheet.php?fixtureid=3982| website = SoccerFactsUK| access-date = 5 August 2010}}</ref> He suffered a foot injury in a 3–1 away victory at [[Hendon F.C.|Hendon]],<ref name="Hendon 1–3 Braintree Town">{{cite news| title = Hendon 1–3 Braintree Town| url = http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2004/teamsheet.php?fixtureid=4408| website = SoccerFactsUK| access-date = 5 August 2010}}</ref> which proved to be his last game for the club; he played four times for Braintree, all of which were victories.<ref name="Braintree Town 2004–05 season">{{cite news| title = Braintree Town 2004–05 season| url = http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2004/squadlist.php?teamid=122| website = SoccerFactsUK| access-date = 5 August 2010}}</ref> A month later, Bridges joined Histon on a short-term basis, making his debut for the club in March 2005, playing the whole match in a 3–1 home win against [[Tiverton Town F.C.|Tiverton Town]]. He scored once for Histon in a 3–0 home victory against [[Solihull Borough F.C.|Solihull Borough]] on 18 April 2005.<ref name="Now let's go and take title – Fallon">{{cite news| title = Now let's go and take title – Fallon| url = http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_sport_football/displayarticle.asp?id=226080| newspaper = Cambridge News| date = 18 April 2005| access-date = 16 August 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Bridges made 11 appearances for Histon and helped the club achieve promotion to the [[National League South|Conference South]] in his two months at the club.<ref name="Lucky break puts Histon one game and two divisions from the League">{{cite news| title = Lucky break puts Histon one game and two divisions from the League| url = http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_sport_football/displayarticle.asp?id=223352| newspaper = Cambridge News| date = 27 April 2005| access-date = 16 August 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He left Histon at the end of the season, and subsequently earned himself a one-year contract to re-join his former employers, Cambridge United, following a successful trial at the club.<ref name="Boss Newman is building Bridges">{{cite news| title = Boss Newman is building Bridges| url = http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_sport_camb_utd/displayarticle.asp?id=218539| newspaper = Cambridge News| date = 6 July 2005| access-date = 16 August 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Bridges said he "did not hesitate in joining Cambridge for a second time" when he was eventually offered a full-time contract in June 2005.<ref name="David Bridges – In Focus"/>
Bridges featured regularly in the opening half of the [[2002-03 in English football|2002-03]] season, playing a total of 25 times and scoring once.<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2002/2003 player appearances">{{cite news
| title = Cambridge Utd 2002/2003 player appearances
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483
| publisher = Soccerbase
| date =
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> However, a persistent [[ankle injury]] cut his run in the [[first-team]] short, and he did not feature from February onwards.<ref name="U's hit by Bridges blow">{{cite news
| title = U's hit by Bridges blow
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/3004622.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2003-06-19
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> He returned to first-team action in a 1-0 defeat to [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] in October 2003,<ref name="Wycombe 1-0 Cambridge">{{cite news
| title = Wycombe 1-0 Cambridge
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3187248.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2003-10-14
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> and played a further 22 times for the U's throughout the [[2003-04 in English football|2003-04]] campaign.<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2003/2004 player appearances">{{cite news
| title = Cambridge Utd 2003/2004 player appearances
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483
| publisher = Soccerbase
| date =
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> However, Bridges left Cambridge at the end of the season after failing to agree a contract with manager [[Hervé Renard]].


===Return to Cambridge===
Bridges trialled at a number of clubs before the start of the [[2004-05 in English football|2004-05]] season, most notably [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] and [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]], without successfully securing a deal.<ref name="Chesterfield warn Bridges">{{cite news
During the [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06 season]], Bridges was a regular in the centre of Cambridge's midfield.<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2005/2006 player appearances">{{cite news| title = Cambridge Utd 2005/2006 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483| website = Soccerbase| access-date = 16 August 2009| archive-date = 10 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070210175937/http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483| url-status = dead}}</ref> He made his second debut for Cambridge in a 1–0 defeat at [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]],<ref name="Forest Green 1–0 Cambridge">{{cite news| title = Forest Green 1–0 Cambridge| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4126814.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 13 August 2005| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> and scored in the following two games against both [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]] and [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]].<ref name="Cambridge 2–1 Hereford">{{cite news| title = Cambridge 2–1 Hereford| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4148272.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 16 August 2005| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref><ref name="Cambridge 3–1 Accrington">{{cite news| title = Cambridge 3–1 Accrington| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4148418.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 20 August 2005| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> Bridges played 40 times during the season, scoring seven goals from midfield.<ref name="David Bridges all time playing career"/> He was voted the club's Player of the Year award at the end of that season, as well as earning a one-year contract extension in May 2006.<ref name="Cambridge United review of the season">{{cite news| title = Cambridge United review of the season| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/content/articles/2006/05/09/cambridge_united_season_review_06_feature.shtml| publisher = BBC Cambridgeshire| date = 9 May 2006| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref>
| title = Chesterfield warn Bridges
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/3875755.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2004-07-08
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref><ref name="Cobblers look at trio">{{cite news
| title = Cobblers look at trio
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/northampton_town/3576150.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2004-08-18
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> After a short stint in [[Latvia]] for [[FK Riga]], Bridges returned to England to join [[Cambridgeshire]] side [[Histon F.C.|Histon]] in March 2005.<ref name="Neil's goal keeps title hopes alive">{{cite news
| title = Neil's goal keeps title hopes alive
| url = http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_sport_football/displayarticle.asp?id=226435
| publisher = Cambridge News
| date = 2005-03-23
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> He scored twice for Histon,<ref name="Now let's go and take title - Fallon">{{cite news
| title = Now let's go and take title - Fallon
| url = http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_sport_football/displayarticle.asp?id=226080
| publisher = Cambridge News
| date = 2005-04-18
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> making eight appearances and helping the club achieve [[promotion]] to the [[Conference South]] in his two months at the club.<ref name="Lucky break puts Histon one game and two divisions from the League">{{cite news
| title = Lucky break puts Histon one game and two divisions from the League
| url = http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_sport_football/displayarticle.asp?id=223352
| publisher = Cambridge News
| date = 2005-04-27
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> He left Histon at the end of the season, and subsequently earned himself a one-year contract to re-join [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]], following a successful trial at the club.<ref name="Boss Newman is building Bridges">{{cite news
| title = Boss Newman is building Bridges
| url = http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_sport_camb_utd/displayarticle.asp?id=218539
| publisher = Cambridge News
| date = 2005-07-06
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref>


He continued playing regularly under new manager [[Jimmy Quinn (Northern Irish footballer)|Jimmy Quinn]] in the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07 season]].<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2006/2007 player appearances">{{cite news| title = Cambridge Utd 2006/2007 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483| website = Soccerbase| access-date = 16 August 2009| archive-date = 10 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070210175937/http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483| url-status = dead}}</ref> He scored his first goal of the season in a 3–0 home win against [[Ebbsfleet United F.C.|Gravesend & Northfleet]] in November 2006,<ref name="Cambridge Utd 3–0 Gravesend">{{cite news| title = Cambridge Utd 3–0 Gravesend| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6139382.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 11 November 2006| access-date = 5 August 2010}}</ref> and scored again two weeks later in the club's 2–1 away win at [[Southport F.C.|Southport]] at [[Haig Avenue]].<ref name="Southport 1–2 Cambridge Utd">{{cite news| title = Southport 1–2 Cambridge Utd| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6160934.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 25 November 2006| access-date = 5 August 2010}}</ref> After Cambridge's 2–0 home defeat to [[St Albans City F.C.|St Albans City]] in December,<ref name="Cambridge Utd 0–2 St Albans">{{cite news| title = Cambridge Utd 0–2 St Albans| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6202066.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2 December 2006| access-date = 5 August 2010}}</ref> Bridges did not feature in the first-team for two months. He returned to the first-team in Cambridge's 3–0 win against [[Woking F.C.|Woking]] on 27 January 2007,<ref name="Cambridge Utd 3–0 Woking">{{cite news| title = Cambridge Utd 3–0 Woking| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6282055.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 27 January 2007| access-date = 5 August 2010}}</ref> and scored his third of the season in a 2–1 away victory against [[Stafford Rangers F.C.|Stafford Rangers]].<ref name="Stafford 1–2 Cambridge Utd">{{cite news| title = Stafford 1–2 Cambridge Utd| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6392397.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 3 March 2007| access-date = 5 August 2010}}</ref> He played 31 games during the season, scoring three times.<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2006/2007 player appearances"/> Bridges was released by Cambridge in May 2007 as they made wholesale changes to their playing squad.<ref name="Castle leaves post at Cambridge">{{cite news| title = Castle leaves post at Cambridge| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/6616705.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2 May 2007| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> During his second spell at Cambridge, Bridges made 71 appearances in all competitions over two seasons, scoring ten times.<ref name="David Bridges all time playing career"/>
He made his second debut for Cambridge in a 1-0 defeat at [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]],<ref name="Forest Green 1-0 Cambridge">{{cite news
| title = Forest Green 1-0 Cambridge
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4126814.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2005-08-13
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> and scored in the following two games against both [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]] and [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]].<ref name="Cambridge 2-1 Hereford">{{cite news
| title = Cambridge 2-1 Hereford
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4148272.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2005-08-16
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref><ref name="Cambridge 3-1 Accrington">{{cite news
| title = Cambridge 3-1 Accrington
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4148418.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2004-08-20
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> Bridges was a [[first-team]] regular throughout the [[2005-06 in English football|2005-06]] season, and played in 38 matches, scoring seven goals from [[midfielder|midfield]].<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2005/2006 player appearances">{{cite news
| title = Cambridge Utd 2005/2006 player appearances
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483
| publisher = Soccerbase
| date =
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> Consequently, he won the 'Player of the season' award at Cambridge in the same season, and more importantly earned a contract extension in May 2006.<ref name="Cambridge United review of the season">{{cite news
| title = Cambridge United review of the season
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/content/articles/2006/05/09/cambridge_united_season_review_06_feature.shtml
| publisher = BBC Cambridgeshire
| date = 2006-05-09
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> He continued playing regularly under new manager [[Jimmy Quinn (Northern Irish footballer)|Jimmy Quinn]] in the [[2006-07 in English football|2006-07]] season, scoring three times in 30 appearances.<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2006/2007 player appearances">{{cite news
| title = Cambridge Utd 2006/2007 player appearances
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483
| publisher = Soccerbase
| date =
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> However, he was released by Quinn in May 2007 as he re-vamped the entire squad.<ref name="Castle leaves post at Cambridge">{{cite news
| title = Castle leaves post at Cambridge
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/6616705.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2007-05-02
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref>


===Kettering Town===
Two months later, Bridges joined [[Conference North]] side [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]] on a one-year deal.<ref name="David Bridges playing career">{{cite news
Two months later, Bridges joined [[National League North|Conference North]] club [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]] on a one-year deal.<ref name="David Bridges playing career">{{cite news| title = David Bridges Playing career| url = https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=30243| website = Soccerbase| access-date = 16 August 2009| archive-date = 1 October 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071001192025/http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=30243| url-status = live}}</ref> Bridges made his debut for Kettering in late August 2007, starting in the club's 3–2 away victory against [[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]].<ref name="Worcester City 2–3 Kettering Town">{{cite news| title = Worcester City 2–3 Kettering Town| url = http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/| publisher = SoccerFactsUK| access-date = 4 August 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100414095449/http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/| archive-date = 14 April 2010| url-status = dead}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club in the following game, doubling Kettering's lead in a victory against [[Tamworth F.C.|Tamworth]].<ref name="Kettering Town 2–1 Tamworth">{{cite news| title = Kettering Town 2–1 Tamworth| url = http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/| website = SoccerFactsUK| access-date = 4 August 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100414095449/http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/| archive-date = 14 April 2010| url-status = dead}}</ref> He played regularly for the [[Northamptonshire]] club throughout Kettering's [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08 league season]], scoring 11 goals in 27 appearances to help Kettering earn promotion to the [[National League (division)|Conference Premier]].<ref name="Poppies march on at Hyde">{{cite news| title = Poppies march on at Hyde| url = http://www.northantset.co.uk/sport/Poppies-march-on-at-Hyde.3883322.jp| newspaper = Northants Evening Telegraph| date = 16 March 2008| access-date = 16 August 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Kettering promoted as champions">{{cite news| title = Kettering promoted as champions| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7332649.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 5 April 2008| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref>
| title = David Bridges Playing career

| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=30243
===Stevenage===
| publisher = Soccerbase
He was offered a new contract by manager [[Mark Cooper (footballer born 1968)|Mark Cooper]], which was rejected, as he opted to join his former Kettering team-mates [[Craig Westcarr]] and [[Gary Mills (footballer born 1981)|Gary Mills]] in signing for [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]] on 13 May 2008.<ref name="Stevenage sign defender Anaclet">{{cite news| title = Stevenage sign defender Anaclet| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stevenage/7398824.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 13 May 2008| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> Bridges suffered a knee injury during pre-season and subsequently missed the first half of the [[2008–09 in English football|2008–09 season]]. He eventually made his debut for the [[Hertfordshire]] club in a 1–1 draw against [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] on 20 December 2008, scoring Stevenage's goal with an "unstoppable drive from outside the area".<ref name="Oxford 1–1 Stevenage">{{cite news| title = Oxford 1–1 Stevenage| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7779483.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 20 December 2008| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> Bridges scored three goals in the club's successful [[FA Trophy]] run that season, scoring in 4–0 victories against both [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]] and [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]],<ref name="Stevenage Borough 4–0 Burton Albion">{{cite news| title = Stevenage Borough 4–0 Burton Albion| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7863206.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 31 January 2009| access-date = 4 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="Stevenage Borough 4–0 Forest Green Rovers">{{cite news| title = Stevenage Borough 4–0 Forest Green Rovers| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stevenage/7904025.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 21 February 2009| access-date = 4 August 2010}}</ref> as well as scoring the winner in Stevenage's 3–2 home win against [[Ebbsfleet United F.C.|Ebbsfleet United]] in the first leg of the semi-final.<ref name="Ebbsfleet United 0–1 Stevenage Borough">{{cite news| title = Ebbsfleet United 0–1 Stevenage Borough| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7955909.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 21 March 2009| access-date = 4 August 2010}}</ref> His season was cut short when he suffered an injury in a 1–1 draw against Oxford United at [[Broadhall Way]], a game in which he scored Stevenage's goal, but ultimately missed the rest of the season.<ref name="Stevenage 1–1 Oxford">{{cite news| title = Stevenage 1–1 Oxford| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7948964.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 28 March 2009| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> Bridges made 19 appearances during the club's 2008–09 season, scoring six times.<ref name="Stevenage Borough 2008/2009 player appearances">{{cite web| title = Stevenage Borough 2008/2009 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499| website = Soccerbase| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref>
| date =

| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> He was instrumental for the [[Northamptonshire]] club throughout Kettering's [[2007-08 in English football|2007-08]] league campaign, scoring 11 goals in 39 appearances to help guide Kettering to promotion to the [[Conference National]].<ref name="Poppies march on at Hyde">{{cite news
Bridges returned from injury at the start of the [[2009–10 in English football|2009–10 season]], starting in a 0–0 draw against Barrow at [[Holker Street]] on 15 August 2009.<ref name="Barrow 0–0 Stevenage">{{cite news| title = Barrow 0–0 Stevenage| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8199814.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 15 August 2009| access-date = 30 January 2010}}</ref> He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0 victory over Ebbsfleet United on 12 December 2009,<ref name="Stevenage 2–0 Ebbsfleet">{{cite news| title = Stevenage 2–0 Ebbsfleet| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stevenage/8410213.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 12 December 2009| access-date = 30 January 2010}}</ref> and followed this up by scoring twice against [[Vauxhall Motors F.C.|Vauxhall Motors]] in the FA Trophy.<ref name="Stevenage 6–0 Vauxhall Motors">{{cite news| title = Stevenage 6–0 Vauxhall Motors| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stevenage/8470920.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 20 January 2010| access-date = 30 January 2010}}</ref> He scored his eighth goal that season in a 1–0 victory over [[York City F.C.|York City]], the final league match of the club's 2009–10 season, as Stevenage earned promotion as Conference Premier champions.<ref name="Stevenage 1–0 York">{{cite news| title = Stevenage 1–0 York| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8620969.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 24 April 2010| access-date = 24 April 2010}}</ref> Bridges played 38 times during the season, scoring eight goals from midfield.<ref name="Stevenage 2009/2010 player appearances">{{cite news| title = Stevenage 2009/2010 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499| publisher = Soccerbase| access-date = 26 August 2009}}</ref> He missed the first three games of the [[2010–11 in English football|2010–11 season]] as a result of the red card he received in the FA Trophy [[2010 FA Trophy Final]].<ref name="Barrow 2–1 Stevenage (aet)">{{cite news| title = Barrow 2–1 Stevenage (aet)| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8633070.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 8 May 2010| access-date = 7 September 2010}}</ref> He made his first appearance of the 2010–11 season in Stevenage's 1–1 draw away to [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]], coming on as a 38th-minute substitute.<ref name="Aldershot 1–1 Stevenage">{{cite news| title = Aldershot 1–1 Stevenage| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8922458.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 28 August 2010| access-date = 7 September 2010}}</ref> He suffered an ankle injury in training that ruled him out of first-team action for a month, returning to the first-team as a second-half substitute in Stevenage's 2–0 home defeat to [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]], but admitted he was "not fully fit".<ref name="Stevenage 0–2 Wycombe">{{cite news |title=Stevenage 0–2 Wycombe |url=http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10839~51495,00.html |publisher=Stevenage F.C. |date=2 October 2010 |access-date=9 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001120616/http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10839~51495%2C00.html |archive-date=1 October 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Interview: Bridges on Wycombe">{{cite news| title = Interview: Bridges on Wycombe| url = http://www.stevenagefc.com/articles/20101005/interview-bridges-on-wycombe_2283818_2175555/0,,10839~2175555~1,00.html| publisher = Stevenage F.C.| date = 5 October 2010| access-date = 9 October 2010}}</ref> He scored his only goal of the season in Stevenage's 3–1 away victory against [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] on 22 February 2011.<ref name="Port Vale 1–3 Stevenage">{{cite news| title = Port Vale 1–3 Stevenage| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/9401860.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 22 February 2011| access-date = 22 February 2011}}</ref> Bridges played 24 games in all competitions, helping Stevenage earn promotion to [[EFL League One|League One]] in their first Football League season.<ref name="Stevenage 2010/2011 player appearances">{{cite web| title = Stevenage 2010/2011 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499| website = Soccerbase| access-date = 19 May 2010}}</ref><ref name="Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay">{{cite news| title = Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13482198.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 28 May 2011| access-date = 8 July 2011}}</ref>
| title = Poppies march on at Hyde

| url = http://www.northantset.co.uk/sport/Poppies-march-on-at-Hyde.3883322.jp
===Return to Kettering===
| publisher = Northants Evening Telegraph
Bridges re-joined Conference Premier club Kettering Town on 1 August 2011, signing a two-year deal with the club.<ref name="Kettering Town sign up David Bridges and Phil Ifil">{{cite news| title = Kettering Town sign up David Bridges and Phil Ifil| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kettering_town/9554536.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2 August 2011| access-date = 2 August 2011}}</ref> He joined Kettering on a free transfer, having been out of contract at Stevenage<ref name="Kettering Town sign up David Bridges and Phil Ifil"/> – "I got injured at the back end of last season and I was out of contract and because of all the deals that needed to be sorted at Stevenage, I wasn't a priority and I had to wait. There comes a time when you can't wait any longer and I needed to sort my future out so here we are".<ref name="Bridges is back to bag medals">{{cite news| title = Bridges is back to bag medals| url = http://www.northantset.co.uk/sport/football/kettering-town/bridges_is_back_to_bag_medals_1_2923707| newspaper = Evening Telegraph| date = 2 August 2011| access-date = 2 August 2011| archive-date = 25 August 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110825132705/http://www.northantset.co.uk/sport/football/kettering-town/bridges_is_back_to_bag_medals_1_2923707| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="Westley sad to see Bridges leave">{{cite news| title = Westley sad to see Bridges leave| url = http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/westley_sad_to_see_bridges_leave_1_984046| newspaper = The Comet| date = 4 August 2011| access-date = 4 August 2011}}</ref> Bridges made his Kettering Town debut in a 2–0 away win at [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]] on 10 September 2011, the club's first away victory of the season.<ref name="Lincoln City 0–2 Kettering">{{cite news| title = Lincoln City 0–2 Kettering| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/14829197.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 10 September 2011| access-date = 14 September 2011}}</ref> After making just five appearances for Kettering, Bridges was transfer-listed by new manager [[Mark Stimson]] on 29 September.<ref name="Kettering Town – Update">{{cite news| title = Kettering Town – Update| url = http://www.ketteringtownfc.co.uk/story.php?story_id=857| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130420232504/http://www.ketteringtownfc.co.uk/story.php?story_id=857| url-status = dead| archive-date = 20 April 2013| publisher = Kettering Town F.C.| date = 29 September 2011| access-date = 29 September 2011}}</ref> Despite being transfer-listed due to Kettering's financial problems, Bridges continued to play in the first-team, and he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against [[Ebbsfleet United F.C.|Ebbsfleet United]], scoring from close range to give the club an initial one-goal lead.<ref name="Kettering 2–2 Ebbsfleet">{{cite news| title = Kettering 2–2 Ebbsfleet| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/15319525.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 22 October 2011| access-date = 26 November 2011}}</ref> Bridges was forced to take training following the departure of Stimson, with only six other Kettering players turning up to train due to unpaid wages.<ref name="Kettering Town name Ashley Westwood as new caretaker boss">{{cite news
| date = 2008-03-16
| title = Kettering Town name Ashley Westwood as new caretaker boss
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref><ref name="Kettering promoted as champions">{{cite news
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16666395
| title = Kettering promoted as champions
| publisher = BBC Sport
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7332649.stm
| date = 21 January 2012
| access-date = 8 November 2012}}</ref> Despite the off-field problems, he remained ever-present for the remainder of the season, playing 38 times in all competitions,<ref name="Games played by David Bridges in 2011/2012">{{Soccerbase season|30243|2011|name=David Bridges|access-date=8 November 2012}}</ref> and scoring his third and final goal of the season in a 1–1 home draw with [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] on 21 April 2012.<ref name="Kettering 1–1 Barrow">{{cite news
| title = Kettering 1–1 Barrow
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17711806
| publisher = BBC Sport
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2008-04-05
| date = 21 April 2012
| access-date = 8 November 2012}}</ref> Kettering were relegated, finishing bottom of the league, and faced a further relegation due to entering a Company Voluntary Arrangement.<ref name="Kettering Town future looks secure after CVA decision">{{cite news
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> He was offered a new contract by manager [[Mark Cooper (footballer born 1968)|Mark Cooper]], which was rejected, as he opted to join [[Craig Westcarr]] and [[Gary Mills (footballer born 1981)‎|Gary Mills]] at [[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]].<ref name="Stevenage sign defender Anaclet">{{cite news
| title = Kettering Town future looks secure after CVA decision
| title = Stevenage sign defender Anaclet
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stevenage/7398824.stm
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18460340
| publisher = BBC Sport
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2008-05-13
| date = 15 June 2012
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref><ref name="New signings confirmed">{{cite news
| access-date = 8 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="Imraan Ladak back in charge at Kettering Town">{{cite news
| title = New signings confirmed
| title = Imraan Ladak back in charge at Kettering Town
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19354925
| url = http://www.stevenageborofc.com/index_news_det.php?uk_newsPage=65&news_id=657
| publisher = Stevenage Borough official site
| date = 2008-05-10
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> However, Bridges suffered a [[knee injury]] and missed the first half of the [[2008-09 in English football|2008-09]] season. He eventually made his debut for the [[Hertfordshire]] outfit in a 1-1 draw against [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] in December 2008, scoring Stevenage's goal.<ref name="Oxford 1-1 Stevenage">{{cite news
| title = Oxford 1-1 Stevenage
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7779483.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2008-12-20
| date = 23 August 2012
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref> He played 19 games, scoring six goals before he suffered an injury in another 1-1 draw against Oxford United at [[Broadhall Way]], which ultimately ruled him out for the rest of the season.<ref name="Stevenage 1-1 Oxford">{{cite news
| access-date = 8 November 2012}}</ref> Bridges had one-year remaining on his contract at Kettering, but left in July 2012, calling the season the "worst of his career".<ref name="Kettering Town's David Bridges keen to go on with club">{{cite news
| title = Kettering Town's David Bridges keen to go on with club
| title = Stevenage 1-1 Oxford
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7948964.stm
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17831376
| publisher = BBC Sport
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2009-03-28
| date = 24 April 2012
| access-date = 8 November 2012}}</ref>
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref><ref name="Stevenage Borough 2008/2009 player appearances">{{cite web

| title = Stevenage Borough 2008/2009 player appearances
===Chelmsford City===
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499
In August 2012, Bridges signed for [[National League South|Conference South]] club [[Chelmsford City F.C.|Chelmsford City]] on a free transfer.<ref name="David Bridges – Chelmsford City">{{cite news
| publisher = Soccerbase
| title = David Bridges – Chelmsford City
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref>
| url = http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/players-coaches-62438.html?player_id=720088&archive_id=
| publisher = Chelmsford City F.C.
| access-date = 8 November 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130503133606/http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/players-coaches-62438.html?player_id=720088&archive_id=
| archive-date = 3 May 2013
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> He made his debut for the club in a 3–2 home win over [[Bromley F.C.|Bromley]] on 25 August 2012.<ref name="David Bridges – Chelmsford City statistics"/> Bridges scored his first goal for Chelmsford in the club's 2–2 draw with [[East Thurrock United F.C.|East Thurrock United]] in the [[FA Cup]] on 20 October 2012, with a shot through a crowded penalty area after East Thurrock had failed to clear a corner.<ref name="FA CUP: Chelmsford City 2, East Thurrock 2">{{cite news
| title = FA CUP: Chelmsford City 2, East Thurrock 2
| url = http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/football/nonleague/9997754.FA_CUP__Chelmsford_City_2__East_Thurrock_2/
| newspaper = Echo News
| date = 20 October 2012
| access-date = 8 November 2012}}</ref> It took Bridges seven months to score his first league goal, netting on the hour mark in a 6–0 home victory over [[Farnborough F.C.|Farnborough]] on 18 March 2013, a game in which he also assisted two other goals.<ref name="Chelmsford City 6–0 Farnborough">{{cite news
| title = Chelmsford City 6–0 Farnborough
| url = http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/match-report-62438.html?fixture_id=518787&official=1
| publisher = Chelmsford City F.C.
| date = 18 March 2013
| access-date = 28 May 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130602083134/http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/match-report-62438.html?official=1&fixture_id=518787
| archive-date = 2 June 2013
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> It proved to be his only league goal of the season, in which Chelmsford would once again make the Conference South play-offs, but ultimately fall short.<ref name="Chelmsford City 1–0 Salisbury City">{{cite news
| title = Chelmsford City 1–0 Salisbury City
| url = http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/match-report-62438.html?fixture_id=1738004&official=0
| publisher = Chelmsford City F.C.
| date = 30 April 2013
| access-date = 28 May 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130601221333/http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/match-report-62438.html?fixture_id=1738004&official=0
| archive-date = 1 June 2013
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name="Salisbury City 2–0 Chelmsford City">{{cite news
| title = Salisbury City 2–0 Chelmsford City
| url = http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/match-report-62438.html?fixture_id=1738005&official=0
| publisher = Chelmsford City F.C.
| date = 4 May 2013
| access-date = 28 May 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130523110910/http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/match-report-62438.html?official=0&fixture_id=1738005
| archive-date = 23 May 2013
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> They lost 2–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals to [[Salisbury City F.C.|Salisbury City]], with Bridges playing in both games.<ref name="Chelmsford City 1–0 Salisbury City" /><ref name="Salisbury City 2–0 Chelmsford City"/> He made 36 appearances in all competitions during the season, scoring two goals.<ref name="David Bridges – Chelmsford City statistics">{{cite news
| title = David Bridges – Chelmsford City statistics
| url = http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/players-coaches-62438.html?player_id=720088&archive_id=
| publisher = Chelmsford City F.C.
| access-date = 28 May 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130503133606/http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/players-coaches-62438.html?player_id=720088&archive_id=
| archive-date = 3 May 2013
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

===Later career===
Shortly after the end of the [[2012–13 in English football|2012–13 season]], Bridges signed for [[Isthmian League]] Premier Division club [[Bury Town F.C.|Bury Town]] on a free transfer.<ref name="First new signing as two depart">{{cite news
| title = First new signing as two depart
| url = http://www.burytownfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=169&catid=2
| publisher = Bury Town F.C.
| date = 25 May 2013
| access-date = 28 May 2013}}</ref> On joining Bury Town, Bridges said – "I'm good friends with Adam Tann and Craig Parker and they couldn't say enough good things about the club. They told me that the players are really well looked after and the club is full of good honest people".<ref name="First new signing as two depart" /> He left Bury Town in December 2013 due to the club's financial problems, and subsequently joined [[Brackley Town F.C.|Brackley Town]] of the [[National League North]] in January 2014.<ref>[http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/i-didn-t-want-to-go-bury-town-midfielder-david-bridges-1-5782481 "I didn't want to go" – Bury Town midfielder David Bridges] Bury Free Press, 2 January 2014</ref> Bridges made his debut for Brackley on 11 January 2014, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute in a 3–1 victory over [[Gainsborough Trinity F.C.|Gainsborough Trinity]].<ref name="Brackley Town 3–1 Gainsborough Trinity">{{cite news
| title = Brackley Town 3–1 Gainsborough Trinity
| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2014/01/11/england/conference-n--s/brackley-town-fc/gainsborough-trinity-fc/1508676/
| publisher = Soccerway
| date = 11 January 2014
| access-date = 31 October 2017}}</ref> He made 15 appearances during the second half of the [[2013–14 in English football|2013–14 season]] whilst at Brackley, scoring two goals.<ref name="David Bridges – Soccerway">{{cite news
| title = David Bridges – Soccerway
| url = https://uk.soccerway.com/players/david-bridges/36123/
| publisher = Soccerway
| access-date = 1 November 2017}}</ref>

Bridges left Brackley in the summer and signed for [[King's Lynn Town F.C.|King's Lynn Town]] of the [[Northern Premier League]] on 28 May 2014.<ref name="King's Lynn Town sign former Norwich City youngster Jackson Ramm and former professional David Bridges">{{cite news
| title = King's Lynn Town sign former Norwich City youngster Jackson Ramm and former professional David Bridges
| url = http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/kings-lynn-town/king-s-lynn-town-sign-former-norwich-city-youngster-jackson-ramm-and-former-professional-david-bridges-1-3620070
| newspaper = Eastern Daily Press
| date = 28 May 2014
| access-date = 1 November 2017}}</ref> On securing the signing of Bridges for the season, manager Gary Setchell stated "I'm probably very, very fortunate I've stumbled across Bridgo when he's got a lot going on outside of football, business wise".<ref name="King's Lynn Town sign former Norwich City youngster Jackson Ramm and former professional David Bridges"/> Whilst out injured, and having already obtained his UEFA 'B' coaching badge, Bridges was made first-team coach at the club in February 2015.<ref name="David Bridges takes on coaching role at King's Lynn Town">{{cite news
| title = David Bridges takes on coaching role at King's Lynn Town
| url = http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/kings-lynn-town/david-bridges-takes-on-coaching-role-at-king-s-lynn-town-1-3958766
| newspaper = Eastern Daily Press
| date = 17 February 2015
| access-date = 1 November 2017}}</ref> He combined the role alongside continuing to play in the first-team.<ref name="David Bridges takes on coaching role at King's Lynn Town"/> King's Lynn were moved into the [[Southern Football League|Southern League Premier Division]] for the [[2015–16 in English football|2015–16 season]] and Bridges played regularly in the King's Lynn team during the campaign, making 39 appearances in all competitions. Bridges retired from playing in May 2016 to "concentrate on his successful business ventures and spend time with his family".<ref name="New King's Lynn Town owner puts freeze on season tickets">{{cite news
| title = New King's Lynn Town owner puts freeze on season tickets
| url = http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/kings-lynn-town/new-king-s-lynn-town-owner-puts-freeze-on-season-tickets-1-4553207
| newspaper = Eastern Daily Press
| date = 27 May 2016
| access-date = 1 November 2017}}</ref> On his retirement, manager Setchell said "David will be missed by a lot of people at the football club but I totally understand his decision to call it a day on his fantastic playing career and pursue his business interests and spend more time with his young family."<ref name="New King's Lynn Town owner puts freeze on season tickets"/>

Having been retired from playing for over a year, Bridges appeared for [[St Neots Town F.C.|St Neots Town]] of the Southern League Premier Division, the club he was also first-team coach, in a 1–0 away loss against [[AFC Rushden & Diamonds]] in a [[Southern Combination Challenge Cup]] match on 3 October 2017.<ref name="David Bridges – Aylesbury United">{{cite news
| title = David Bridges – Aylesbury United
| url = http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/david-bridges#playingcareer
| publisher = Aylesbury United F.C.
| access-date = 24 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="A much changed Saints side are knocked out of League Cup at the first hurdle by Diamonds">{{cite news
| title = A much changed Saints side are knocked out of League Cup at the first hurdle by Diamonds
| url = http://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/item/1828-a-much-changed-saints-side-are-knocked-out-of-league-cup-at-the-first-hurdle-by-diamonds.html
| publisher = St Neots Town F.C.
| date = 2 October 2017
| access-date = 24 February 2018
| archive-date = 24 February 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180224113457/http://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/item/1828-a-much-changed-saints-side-are-knocked-out-of-league-cup-at-the-first-hurdle-by-diamonds.html
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> He ended up playing 25 times during the [[2017–18 in English football|2017–18 season]], his final season playing, scoring five goals, including two in his final appearance as St Neots won the [[Huntingdonshire Senior Cup]].<ref name="David Bridges – Aylesbury United"/><ref name="David Bridges departs for the Football League and Lincoln City">{{cite news
| title = David Bridges departs for the Football League and Lincoln City
| url = https://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/item/1972-david-bridges-departs-for-the-football-league-and-lincoln-city.html
| publisher = St Neots Town F.C.
| date = 13 August 2018
| access-date = 16 August 2018
| archive-date = 16 August 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180816194550/https://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/item/1972-david-bridges-departs-for-the-football-league-and-lincoln-city.html
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>


==International career==
==International career==
Bridges was named in the [[England C national football team|England C]] team, who represent England at [[Non-League football|non-League]] level, in January 2006, for a friendly against Italy C, staged at Cambridge's [[Abbey Stadium]], his home ground at the time.<ref name="Bridges secures England call-up">{{cite news| title = Bridges secures England call-up| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4712602.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 14 February 2006| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref> He came on as a 73rd-minute substitute as England C won the match 3–1 in front of a crowd of 2,711.<ref name="Bridges features in England win">{{cite news| title = Bridges features in England win| url = http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10423~784269,00.html| publisher = Cambridge United F.C.| date = 16 February 2006| access-date = 5 August 2010}}</ref>


==Style of play==
Bridges was named in the [[England C national football team|England C]] team, who represent England at [[Non-League football|non-League]] level, in January 2006, for a friendly against Italy, staged at Cambridge's [[Abbey Stadium]], his home ground at the time.<ref name="Bridges secures England call-up">{{cite news
Deployed predominantly as a [[midfielder|central midfielder]] throughout his career,<ref name="David Bridges Stevenage profile">{{cite book | title = Stevenage Borough v Forest Green matchday programme | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | year = 2009 | page = 14 }}</ref> Bridges also played across all of the midfield areas.<ref name="David Bridges – In Focus"/><ref name="David Bridges Stevenage profile"/> Manager [[Graham Westley]] said that Bridges is a player with "a lot of off-the-ball intelligence" and that he "reads the game well".<ref name="Graham Westley column">{{Cite book | title = Graham Westley column | publisher = Non-League Paper | year = 2009 | page = 14 }}</ref>
| title = Bridges secures England call-up
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4712602.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 2006-02-14
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref>


==Honours==
==Coaching career==
Bridges gained experience coaching whilst playing at Kettering Town, taking training sessions in January 2012 in the absence of a first-team manager.<ref name="Kettering Town name Ashley Westwood as new caretaker boss"/> He gained his [[UEFA B Licence]] during his time playing at King's Lynn Town and became the club's first-team coach in February 2015, staying in the role for a year-and-a-half whilst also playing.<ref name="David Bridges takes on coaching role at King's Lynn Town"/>
;Stevenage Borough

*Winner
In May 2017, he took up his first coaching-only role when he joined St Neots Town of the [[Southern Football League|Southern League Premier Division]] as first-team coach.<ref name="David Bridges joins Matt Clements' management team">{{cite news
**'''[[FA Trophy]]''': [[2008–09 in English football|2008&ndash;09]]
| title = David Bridges joins Matt Clements' management team
| url = http://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/item/1755-david-bridges-joins-matt-clement-s-management-team.html
| publisher = St Neots Town F.C.
| date = 7 May 2017
| access-date = 1 November 2017
| archive-date = 15 December 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122915/http://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/item/1755-david-bridges-joins-matt-clement-s-management-team.html
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> Bridges left St Neots in order to become head of coaching at League Two club [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]] on 13 August 2018.<ref name="David Bridges departs for the Football League and Lincoln City"/> He spent over two years at Lincoln,<ref name="Linkedin – David Bridges">{{cite news
| title = Linkedin – David Bridges
| url = https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-bridges-821b4564
| publisher = Linkedin
| access-date = 22 June 2021}}</ref> before being appointed as a coach educator for the [[Professional Footballers' Association]] in February 2021.<ref name="Linkedin – David Bridges"/>

On 2 August, he returned to Lincoln City as assistant head coach to [[Michael Skubala]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Key appointments bolster Imps|url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/key-appointments-bolster-imps|access-date=2 August 2024|publisher=Lincoln City Official Site|date=2 August 2024}}</ref> After just a few months, he left the club explore other opportunities within football.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bridges leaves the Imps |url=https://www.weareimps.com/news/bridges-leaves-imps |access-date=22 November 2024 |publisher=Lincoln City FC |date=21 November 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He supports [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref name="David Bridges – In Focus"/><ref name="Player profiles – David Bridges" />


==Career statistics==
==Career statistics==
:''As of 28 November 2009.''


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Line 224: Line 305:
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="2"|League{{ref label|League|A|}}
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|FA Cup
!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan="2"|League Cup
!colspan="2"|[[EFL Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|Other{{ref label|Other|B|}}
!colspan="2"|Other{{Ref label|Other|A|}}
!colspan="2"|Total
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
|-
!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|-
|rowspan="4" valign="center"|'''[[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]'''
|rowspan="4" valign="center"|[[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
|<center>[[2001–02 in English football|2001&ndash;02]]<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2001/2002 player appearances">{{cite web
|align="center"| [[2001–02 in English football|2001–02]]<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2001/2002 player appearances"/>
|[[Football League Third Division|Division Three]]
| title = Cambridge Utd 2001/2002 player appearances
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483
| publisher = Soccerbase
| accessdate = 2009-08-14}}</ref>
|7||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||7||1
|7||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||7||1
|-
|-
|<center>[[2002–03 in English football|2002&ndash;03]]<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2002/2003 player appearances">{{cite web
|align="center"| [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03]]<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2002/2003 player appearances"/>
|Division Three
| title = Cambridge Utd 2002/2003 player appearances
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483
| publisher = Soccerbase
| accessdate = 2009-08-14}}</ref>
|17||1||3||0||2||0||3||0||25||1
|17||1||3||0||2||0||3||0||25||1
|-
|-
|<center>[[2003–04 in English football|2003&ndash;04]]<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2003/2004 player appearances">{{cite web
|align="center"| [[2003–04 in English football|2003–04]]<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2003/2004 player appearances"/>
|Division Three
| title = Cambridge Utd 2003/2004 player appearances
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483
| publisher = Soccerbase
| accessdate = 2009-08-14}}</ref>
|21||2||1||0||0||0||1||0||23||2
|21||2||1||0||0||0||1||0||23||2
|-
|-
!Total
!colspan="2"|Total
!45!!4!!4!!0!!2!!0!!4!!0!!55!!4
!45!!4!!4!!0!!2!!0!!4!!0!!55!!4
|-
|-
|rowspan="2" valign="center"|'''[[Histon F.C.|Histon]]'''
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|[[FK Rīga]]
|<center>[[2004–05 in English football|2004&ndash;05]]<ref name="Histon player appearances">{{cite web
|align="center"| [[2004 Latvian Higher League|2004]]<ref name="David Bridges – In Focus"/>
|[[Latvian Higher League|Higher League]]
| title = Histon player appearances
|0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0||0||0
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2393
| publisher = Soccerbase
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref>
|8||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||8||2
|-
|-
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|[[Braintree Town F.C.|Braintree Town]]
!Total
|align="center"| [[2004–05 Isthmian League#Premier Division|2004–05]]<ref name="Braintree player appearances">{{cite web| title = Braintree player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=423| publisher = Soccerbase| access-date = 5 August 2010| archive-date = 25 November 2004| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041125163525/http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=423| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="Player Details: Season 2004–2005 – David Bridges">{{cite web| title = Player Details: Season 2004–2005 – David Bridges| url = http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2004/player_details.php?playerid=7268| publisher = SoccerFactsUK| access-date = 22 July 2011}}</ref>
!8!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!8!!2
|[[Isthmian League|IL]] Premier Division
|4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||4||0
|-
|-
|rowspan="3" valign="center"|'''[[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]'''
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|[[Histon F.C.|Histon]]
|align="center"| [[2004–05 Southern Football League#Premier Division|2004–05]]<ref name="Player Details: Season 2004–2005 – David Bridges" /><ref name="Histon player appearances">{{cite web| title = Histon player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2393| publisher = Soccerbase| access-date = 16 August 2009}}</ref>
|<center>[[2005–06 in English football|2005&ndash;06]]<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2005/2006 player appearances">{{cite web
|[[Southern Football League|SFL]] Premier Division
| title = Cambridge Utd 2005/2006 player appearances
|11||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||11||1
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483
| publisher = Soccerbase
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref>
|35||5||2||0||0||0||3||2||40||7
|-
|-
|rowspan="3" valign="center"|[[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
|<center>[[2006–07 in English football|2006&ndash;07]]<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2006/2007 player appearances">{{cite web
| title = Cambridge Utd 2006/2007 player appearances
|align="center"| [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06]]<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2005/2006 player appearances"/>
|[[National League (division)|Conference Premier]]
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=483
|35||5||2||0||colspan="2"|—||3||2||40||7
| publisher = Soccerbase
| accessdate = 2009-08-16}}</ref>
|31||3||1||0||0||0||0||0||31||3
|-
|-
|align="center"| [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]]<ref name="Cambridge Utd 2006/2007 player appearances"/>
!Total
|Conference Premier
|31||3||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||31||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!66!!8!!2!!0!!0!!0!!3!!2!!71!!10
!66!!8!!2!!0!!0!!0!!3!!2!!71!!10
|-
|-
|rowspan="2" valign="center"|'''[[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]'''
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|[[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]
|<center>[[2007–08 in English football|2007&ndash;08]]<ref name="Kettering 2007/2008 player appearances">{{cite web
|align="center"| [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]]<ref name="Kettering 2007/2008 player appearances">{{cite web| title = Kettering 2007/2008 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2589| publisher = Soccerbase| access-date = 14 August 2009}}</ref>
|[[National League North|Conference North]]
| title = Kettering 2007/2008 player appearances
|23||11||2||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||27||11
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2589
| publisher = Soccerbase
| accessdate = 2009-08-14}}</ref>
|39||11||2||0||0||0||2||0||43||11
|-
|-
|rowspan="4" valign="center"|[[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]]
!Total
|align="center"| [[2008–09 in English football|2008–09]]<ref name="Stevenage Borough 2008/2009 player appearances"/><ref name="Season Guide – 2008/9 ">{{cite web| title = Stevenage Borough 2008–09: Results, rollcall and league table | url = http://www.boroguide.co.uk/seasons/season.php?ID=0809| publisher = BoroGuide| access-date = 13 July 2016}}</ref>
!39!!11!!2!!0!!0!!0!!2!!0!!43!!11
|Conference Premier
|15||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||5||3||20||6
|-
|-
|align="center"| [[2009–10 Stevenage F.C. season|2009–10]]<ref name="Stevenage Borough 2009/2010 player appearances">{{cite web| title = Stevenage Borough 2009/2010 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499| publisher = Soccerbase| access-date = 13 August 2009}}</ref><ref name="Season Guide – 2009/10 ">{{cite web| title = Stevenage Borough 2009–10: Results, rollcall and league table | url = http://www.boroguide.co.uk/seasons/season.php?ID=0910| publisher = BoroGuide| access-date = 13 July 2016}}</ref>
|rowspan="3" valign="center"|'''[[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]]'''
|Conference Premier
|<center>[[2008–09 in English football|2008&ndash;09]]<ref name="Stevenage Borough 2008/2009 player appearances">{{cite web
|28||3||3||0||colspan="2"|—||7||5||38||8
| title = Stevenage Borough 2008/2009 player appearances
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499
| publisher = Soccerbase
| accessdate = 2009-08-13}}</ref>
|15||3||0||0||0||0||4||3||19||6
|-
|-
|<center>[[2009–10 in English football|2009&ndash;10]]<ref name="Stevenage Borough 2009/2010 player appearances">{{cite web
|[[2010–11 Stevenage F.C. season|2010–11]]<ref name="Stevenage 2010/2011 player appearances"/>
|[[EFL League Two|League Two]]
| title = Stevenage Borough 2009/2010 player appearances
|19||1||4||0||0||0||1||0||24||1
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2499
| publisher = Soccerbase
| accessdate = 2009-08-13}}</ref>
|5||0||3||0||0||0||0||0||8||0
|-
|-
!Total
!colspan="2"|Total
!20!!3!!3!!0!!0!!0!!4!!3!!27!!6
!62!!7!!7!!0!!0!!0!!13!!8!!82!!15
|-
|-
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|[[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]
!colspan="2"|Career totals
|align="center"| [[2011–12 in English football|2011–12]]<ref name="Kettering 2011/2012 player appearances">{{cite web| title = Kettering 2011/2012 player appearances| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=2589| publisher = Soccerbase| access-date = 1 August 2011}}</ref>
!178!!28!!11!!0!!2!!0!!13!!5!!204!!33
|Conference Premier
|35||3||2||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0||38||3
|-
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|[[Chelmsford City F.C.|Chelmsford City]]
|align="center"| [[2012–13 in English football|2012–13]]<ref name="David Bridges – 2012–13">{{cite web| title = David Bridges – 2012–13| url = http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/players-coaches-62438.html?player_id=720088&archive_id=| publisher = Chelmsford City F.C.| access-date = 23 October 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130503133606/http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/s/players-coaches-62438.html?player_id=720088&archive_id=| archive-date = 3 May 2013| url-status = dead}}</ref>
|[[National League South|Conference South]]
|28||1||4||1||colspan="2"|—||4||0||36||2
|-
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|[[Bury Town F.C.|Bury Town]]
|align="center"| [[2013–14 in English football|2013–14]]
|[[Southern Football League|SFL]] Premier Division
|0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||0||0
|-
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|[[Brackley Town F.C.|Brackley Town]]
|align="center"| [[2013–14 in English football|2013–14]]<ref name="David Bridges – Soccerway"/>
|[[National League North]]
|15||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||15||2
|-
|rowspan="3" valign="center"|[[King's Lynn Town F.C.|King's Lynn Town]]
|align="center"| [[2014–15 Northern Premier League#Premier Division|2014–15]]<ref name="David Bridges – Aylesbury United"/>
||[[Northern Premier League|NPL]] Premier Division
|41||4||0||0||colspan="2"|—||7||1||48||5
|-
|align="center"| [[2015–16 Southern Football League#Premier Division|2015–16]]<ref name="David Bridges – Aylesbury United"/>
||[[Southern Football League|SFL]] Premier Division
|34||4||2||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0||39||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!75!!8!!2!!0!!0!!0!!10!!1!!87!!9
|-
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|[[St Neots Town F.C.|St Neots Town]]
|align="center"| [[2017–18 Southern Football League#Premier Division|2017–18]]<ref name="David Bridges – Aylesbury United"/>
|[[Southern Football League|SFL]] Premier Division
|22||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3||2||25||5
|-
!colspan="3"|Career totals
!386!!48!!23!!1!!2!!0!!40!!13!!451!!62
|}
|}


{{refbegin}}
==Footnotes==
:A.&nbsp;{{note|Other}} The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the [[Conference League Cup]], [[FA Trophy]] and [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]].
<div class="references-small">
{{col-begin}}
{{refend}}

:A.&nbsp;{{note|League}} The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the [[Football League]], [[Football Conference]] and [[Southern Football League]].
===International===
:B.&nbsp;{{note|Other}} The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the [[FA Trophy]] and [[Football League Trophy]].
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{{col-end}}
|-
</div>
! National team !! Season !! Apps !! Goals
|-
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|[[England C national football team|England C]]
| 2006–07<ref name="Bridges features in England win" /> || 1 || 0
|-
! colspan="2" | Total !! 1 !! 0
|}

==Honours==
'''Histon'''
* [[Southern Football League|Southern Premier League]]: [[Southern Football League Premier Division#Champions|2004–05]]<ref name="Lucky break puts Histon one game and two divisions from the League"/><ref name="Player Details: Season 2004–2005 – David Bridges"/>

'''Kettering Town'''
* [[National League North|Conference North]]: [[2007–08 Football Conference|2007–08]]<ref name="Kettering promoted as champions"/>

'''Stevenage'''
* [[FA Trophy]]: [[2009 FA Trophy Final|2008–09]];<ref name="Stevenage 2–0 York">{{cite news
| title = Stevenage 2–0 York
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8036407.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 9 May 2009
| access-date = 4 May 2019}}</ref> runner-up: [[2009–10 FA Trophy|2009–10]]<ref name="Barrow 2–1 Stevenage (aet)"/>
* [[National League (division)|Conference Premier]]: [[2009–10 Football Conference|2009–10]]<ref name="Stevenage 1–0 York"/>
* [[2010–11 Football League Two#Playoffs|League Two play-offs]]: [[2011 Football League Two play-off Final|2010–11]]<ref name="Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay"/>

'''St Neots Town'''
* [[Huntingdonshire Senior Cup]]: [[2017–18 in English football|2017–18]]<ref name="David Bridges – Aylesbury United"/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{soccerbase|30243|David Bridges}}


{{good article}}
{{Stevenage Borough F.C. squad}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridges, David}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridges, David}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Huntingdon]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:England men's semi-pro international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Cambridge United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Cambridge United F.C. players]]
[[Category:FK Rīga players]]
[[Category:Braintree Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Histon F.C. players]]
[[Category:Kettering Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Kettering Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Stevenage Borough F.C. players]]
[[Category:Stevenage F.C. players]]
[[Category:The Football League players]]
[[Category:Chelmsford City F.C. players]]
[[Category:England semi-pro international footballers]]
[[Category:Bury Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Brackley Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:King's Lynn Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:St Neots Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:National League (English football) players]]
[[Category:Southern Football League players]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 09:49, 22 November 2024

David Bridges
Bridges playing for Kettering Town in 2011
Personal information
Full name David Stephen Bridges[1]
Date of birth (1982-09-22) 22 September 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Huntingdon, England[2]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1998–2002 Cambridge United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Cambridge United 45 (4)
2004 FK Rīga 0 (0)
2005 Braintree Town 4 (0)
2005 Histon 11 (1)
2005–2007 Cambridge United 66 (8)
2007–2008 Kettering Town 23 (11)
2008–2011 Stevenage 62 (7)
2011–2012 Kettering Town 35 (3)
2012–2013 Chelmsford City 28 (1)
2013 Bury Town 0 (0)
2013–2014 Brackley Town 15 (2)
2014–2016 King's Lynn Town 75 (8)
2017–2018 St Neots Town 22 (3)
Total 386 (48)
International career
2006 England C 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:11, 14 August 2018 (UTC)

David Stephen Bridges (born 22 September 1982) is an English former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder.

Bridges started his career with local club Cambridge United, progressing through the club's youth system and eventually breaking into the first-team in 2001. He spent three seasons at Cambridge, before being released at the end of the 2003–04 season after failing to agree terms on a new contract. Bridges had a brief spell in Latvia playing for FK Rīga, before returning to England to play four games for Braintree Town in January 2005. He joined Histon in March 2005, playing for the club until the end of the season. He left Histon at the end of the season, and subsequently earned himself a one-year contract to rejoin Cambridge United in July 2005. He played regularly for the club for two seasons, but was released again in 2007.

Bridges then joined Kettering Town ahead of the 2007–08 season, helping the club achieve promotion from the Conference North to the Conference Premier in his first season at the club. At the end of the season he rejected a contract offer from Kettering and joined Stevenage on a free transfer. In his first season at the Hertfordshire club, he helped the team to FA Trophy success, as well as helping the club earn promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history the following season. He was also part of the squad that helped Stevenage earn back-to-back promotions during the 2010–11 season. Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Bridges re-joined Conference Premier club Kettering Town. He left the club after one season, and spent a year at Chelmsford City, before signing for Bury Town in May 2013. He had a brief spell at Brackley Town, before spending two seasons combining playing and coaching at King's Lynn Town.

He initially announced his retirement from playing in May 2016 and joined St Neots Town as first-team coach a year later, where he began playing again for the 2017–18 season. He left St Neots Town in August 2018, taking up the position of head of coaching at League Two club Lincoln City. Bridges also earned one cap for the England C team.

Early life

[edit]

Born in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, Bridges attended St Peter's School in Huntingdon.[4][5]

Club career

[edit]

Cambridge United

[edit]

Bridges played for local team Cambridge United, whom he joined at the age of eight, and he progressed through the club's youth system before signing his first professional contract in February 2002.[2] He broke into the first-team towards the end of the 2001–02 season, making his debut as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Huddersfield Town at the Abbey Stadium on 16 March 2002.[6] He played six further games in the same season,[7] scoring his first goal for Cambridge in a 2–1 home victory against Tranmere Rovers on 13 April 2002.[8] Bridges played regularly in the opening half of the 2002–03 season, playing 25 times and scoring once in a 3–0 victory against York City.[9][10] A "persistent" ankle injury cut his run in the first-team short, and he did not play from February through to the remainder of the season.[11] He returned to the first-team in a 1–0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on 14 October 2003,[12] and played a further 22 times for the club throughout the 2003–04 season.[13] Bridges left Cambridge at the end of the season after failing to agree a contract extension. On leaving Cambridge, Bridges said "I was offered a contract that was almost a kick in the teeth after the time I had been at the club when players were coming in from all over the place who did not care about the club. They were getting paid five or six times what I was offered, and I thought it was probably time to move on".[4] During his three seasons with the club, Bridges made 55 appearances in all competitions, scoring four times.[2]

Journeyman

[edit]

Bridges trialled at a number of clubs before the start of the 2004–05 season, including Chesterfield and Northampton Town, without successfully securing a deal.[14][15] He also spent the majority of the close season in the United States training with two professional American football clubs, before realising it was not financially viable to move to America on a permanent basis.[4] Bridges struggled to find a club ahead of the 2004–05 season, and took up an offer to play for FK Rīga in Latvia.[4] He suffered a fractured foot just ten days after signing for the club, and did not make any appearances for the Latvian club.[4] Despite the injury, he spent three months in Latvia before returning to England to "assess his options".[4] After returning to England in November 2004 for rehabilitation at Lilleshall, he began part-time training with Cambridgeshire club Histon in January 2005.[16]

He signed for Braintree Town on a short-term contract shortly after training with Histon, making his debut for the club in a 2–1 home victory against Slough Town a day after joining the club.[17] He suffered a foot injury in a 3–1 away victory at Hendon,[18] which proved to be his last game for the club; he played four times for Braintree, all of which were victories.[19] A month later, Bridges joined Histon on a short-term basis, making his debut for the club in March 2005, playing the whole match in a 3–1 home win against Tiverton Town. He scored once for Histon in a 3–0 home victory against Solihull Borough on 18 April 2005.[20] Bridges made 11 appearances for Histon and helped the club achieve promotion to the Conference South in his two months at the club.[21] He left Histon at the end of the season, and subsequently earned himself a one-year contract to re-join his former employers, Cambridge United, following a successful trial at the club.[22] Bridges said he "did not hesitate in joining Cambridge for a second time" when he was eventually offered a full-time contract in June 2005.[4]

Return to Cambridge

[edit]

During the 2005–06 season, Bridges was a regular in the centre of Cambridge's midfield.[23] He made his second debut for Cambridge in a 1–0 defeat at Forest Green Rovers,[24] and scored in the following two games against both Hereford United and Accrington Stanley.[25][26] Bridges played 40 times during the season, scoring seven goals from midfield.[2] He was voted the club's Player of the Year award at the end of that season, as well as earning a one-year contract extension in May 2006.[27]

He continued playing regularly under new manager Jimmy Quinn in the 2006–07 season.[28] He scored his first goal of the season in a 3–0 home win against Gravesend & Northfleet in November 2006,[29] and scored again two weeks later in the club's 2–1 away win at Southport at Haig Avenue.[30] After Cambridge's 2–0 home defeat to St Albans City in December,[31] Bridges did not feature in the first-team for two months. He returned to the first-team in Cambridge's 3–0 win against Woking on 27 January 2007,[32] and scored his third of the season in a 2–1 away victory against Stafford Rangers.[33] He played 31 games during the season, scoring three times.[28] Bridges was released by Cambridge in May 2007 as they made wholesale changes to their playing squad.[34] During his second spell at Cambridge, Bridges made 71 appearances in all competitions over two seasons, scoring ten times.[2]

Kettering Town

[edit]

Two months later, Bridges joined Conference North club Kettering Town on a one-year deal.[35] Bridges made his debut for Kettering in late August 2007, starting in the club's 3–2 away victory against Worcester City.[36] He scored his first goal for the club in the following game, doubling Kettering's lead in a victory against Tamworth.[37] He played regularly for the Northamptonshire club throughout Kettering's 2007–08 league season, scoring 11 goals in 27 appearances to help Kettering earn promotion to the Conference Premier.[38][39]

Stevenage

[edit]

He was offered a new contract by manager Mark Cooper, which was rejected, as he opted to join his former Kettering team-mates Craig Westcarr and Gary Mills in signing for Stevenage on 13 May 2008.[40] Bridges suffered a knee injury during pre-season and subsequently missed the first half of the 2008–09 season. He eventually made his debut for the Hertfordshire club in a 1–1 draw against Oxford United on 20 December 2008, scoring Stevenage's goal with an "unstoppable drive from outside the area".[41] Bridges scored three goals in the club's successful FA Trophy run that season, scoring in 4–0 victories against both Burton Albion and Forest Green Rovers,[42][43] as well as scoring the winner in Stevenage's 3–2 home win against Ebbsfleet United in the first leg of the semi-final.[44] His season was cut short when he suffered an injury in a 1–1 draw against Oxford United at Broadhall Way, a game in which he scored Stevenage's goal, but ultimately missed the rest of the season.[45] Bridges made 19 appearances during the club's 2008–09 season, scoring six times.[46]

Bridges returned from injury at the start of the 2009–10 season, starting in a 0–0 draw against Barrow at Holker Street on 15 August 2009.[47] He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0 victory over Ebbsfleet United on 12 December 2009,[48] and followed this up by scoring twice against Vauxhall Motors in the FA Trophy.[49] He scored his eighth goal that season in a 1–0 victory over York City, the final league match of the club's 2009–10 season, as Stevenage earned promotion as Conference Premier champions.[50] Bridges played 38 times during the season, scoring eight goals from midfield.[51] He missed the first three games of the 2010–11 season as a result of the red card he received in the FA Trophy 2010 FA Trophy Final.[52] He made his first appearance of the 2010–11 season in Stevenage's 1–1 draw away to Aldershot Town, coming on as a 38th-minute substitute.[53] He suffered an ankle injury in training that ruled him out of first-team action for a month, returning to the first-team as a second-half substitute in Stevenage's 2–0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers, but admitted he was "not fully fit".[54][55] He scored his only goal of the season in Stevenage's 3–1 away victory against Port Vale on 22 February 2011.[56] Bridges played 24 games in all competitions, helping Stevenage earn promotion to League One in their first Football League season.[57][58]

Return to Kettering

[edit]

Bridges re-joined Conference Premier club Kettering Town on 1 August 2011, signing a two-year deal with the club.[59] He joined Kettering on a free transfer, having been out of contract at Stevenage[59] – "I got injured at the back end of last season and I was out of contract and because of all the deals that needed to be sorted at Stevenage, I wasn't a priority and I had to wait. There comes a time when you can't wait any longer and I needed to sort my future out so here we are".[60][61] Bridges made his Kettering Town debut in a 2–0 away win at Lincoln City on 10 September 2011, the club's first away victory of the season.[62] After making just five appearances for Kettering, Bridges was transfer-listed by new manager Mark Stimson on 29 September.[63] Despite being transfer-listed due to Kettering's financial problems, Bridges continued to play in the first-team, and he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Ebbsfleet United, scoring from close range to give the club an initial one-goal lead.[64] Bridges was forced to take training following the departure of Stimson, with only six other Kettering players turning up to train due to unpaid wages.[65] Despite the off-field problems, he remained ever-present for the remainder of the season, playing 38 times in all competitions,[66] and scoring his third and final goal of the season in a 1–1 home draw with Barrow on 21 April 2012.[67] Kettering were relegated, finishing bottom of the league, and faced a further relegation due to entering a Company Voluntary Arrangement.[68][69] Bridges had one-year remaining on his contract at Kettering, but left in July 2012, calling the season the "worst of his career".[70]

Chelmsford City

[edit]

In August 2012, Bridges signed for Conference South club Chelmsford City on a free transfer.[71] He made his debut for the club in a 3–2 home win over Bromley on 25 August 2012.[72] Bridges scored his first goal for Chelmsford in the club's 2–2 draw with East Thurrock United in the FA Cup on 20 October 2012, with a shot through a crowded penalty area after East Thurrock had failed to clear a corner.[73] It took Bridges seven months to score his first league goal, netting on the hour mark in a 6–0 home victory over Farnborough on 18 March 2013, a game in which he also assisted two other goals.[74] It proved to be his only league goal of the season, in which Chelmsford would once again make the Conference South play-offs, but ultimately fall short.[75][76] They lost 2–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals to Salisbury City, with Bridges playing in both games.[75][76] He made 36 appearances in all competitions during the season, scoring two goals.[72]

Later career

[edit]

Shortly after the end of the 2012–13 season, Bridges signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Bury Town on a free transfer.[77] On joining Bury Town, Bridges said – "I'm good friends with Adam Tann and Craig Parker and they couldn't say enough good things about the club. They told me that the players are really well looked after and the club is full of good honest people".[77] He left Bury Town in December 2013 due to the club's financial problems, and subsequently joined Brackley Town of the National League North in January 2014.[78] Bridges made his debut for Brackley on 11 January 2014, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute in a 3–1 victory over Gainsborough Trinity.[79] He made 15 appearances during the second half of the 2013–14 season whilst at Brackley, scoring two goals.[80]

Bridges left Brackley in the summer and signed for King's Lynn Town of the Northern Premier League on 28 May 2014.[81] On securing the signing of Bridges for the season, manager Gary Setchell stated "I'm probably very, very fortunate I've stumbled across Bridgo when he's got a lot going on outside of football, business wise".[81] Whilst out injured, and having already obtained his UEFA 'B' coaching badge, Bridges was made first-team coach at the club in February 2015.[82] He combined the role alongside continuing to play in the first-team.[82] King's Lynn were moved into the Southern League Premier Division for the 2015–16 season and Bridges played regularly in the King's Lynn team during the campaign, making 39 appearances in all competitions. Bridges retired from playing in May 2016 to "concentrate on his successful business ventures and spend time with his family".[83] On his retirement, manager Setchell said "David will be missed by a lot of people at the football club but I totally understand his decision to call it a day on his fantastic playing career and pursue his business interests and spend more time with his young family."[83]

Having been retired from playing for over a year, Bridges appeared for St Neots Town of the Southern League Premier Division, the club he was also first-team coach, in a 1–0 away loss against AFC Rushden & Diamonds in a Southern Combination Challenge Cup match on 3 October 2017.[84][85] He ended up playing 25 times during the 2017–18 season, his final season playing, scoring five goals, including two in his final appearance as St Neots won the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup.[84][86]

International career

[edit]

Bridges was named in the England C team, who represent England at non-League level, in January 2006, for a friendly against Italy C, staged at Cambridge's Abbey Stadium, his home ground at the time.[87] He came on as a 73rd-minute substitute as England C won the match 3–1 in front of a crowd of 2,711.[88]

Style of play

[edit]

Deployed predominantly as a central midfielder throughout his career,[89] Bridges also played across all of the midfield areas.[4][89] Manager Graham Westley said that Bridges is a player with "a lot of off-the-ball intelligence" and that he "reads the game well".[90]

Coaching career

[edit]

Bridges gained experience coaching whilst playing at Kettering Town, taking training sessions in January 2012 in the absence of a first-team manager.[65] He gained his UEFA B Licence during his time playing at King's Lynn Town and became the club's first-team coach in February 2015, staying in the role for a year-and-a-half whilst also playing.[82]

In May 2017, he took up his first coaching-only role when he joined St Neots Town of the Southern League Premier Division as first-team coach.[91] Bridges left St Neots in order to become head of coaching at League Two club Lincoln City on 13 August 2018.[86] He spent over two years at Lincoln,[92] before being appointed as a coach educator for the Professional Footballers' Association in February 2021.[92]

On 2 August, he returned to Lincoln City as assistant head coach to Michael Skubala.[93] After just a few months, he left the club explore other opportunities within football.[94]

Personal life

[edit]

He supports Manchester United.[4][5]

Career statistics

[edit]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cambridge United 2001–02[7] Division Three 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1
2002–03[9] Division Three 17 1 3 0 2 0 3 0 25 1
2003–04[13] Division Three 21 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 23 2
Total 45 4 4 0 2 0 4 0 55 4
FK Rīga 2004[4] Higher League 0 0 0 0 0 0
Braintree Town 2004–05[95][96] IL Premier Division 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Histon 2004–05[96][97] SFL Premier Division 11 1 0 0 0 0 11 1
Cambridge United 2005–06[23] Conference Premier 35 5 2 0 3 2 40 7
2006–07[28] Conference Premier 31 3 1 0 0 0 31 3
Total 66 8 2 0 0 0 3 2 71 10
Kettering Town 2007–08[98] Conference North 23 11 2 0 2 0 27 11
Stevenage 2008–09[46][99] Conference Premier 15 3 0 0 5 3 20 6
2009–10[100][101] Conference Premier 28 3 3 0 7 5 38 8
2010–11[57] League Two 19 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 24 1
Total 62 7 7 0 0 0 13 8 82 15
Kettering Town 2011–12[102] Conference Premier 35 3 2 0 1 0 38 3
Chelmsford City 2012–13[103] Conference South 28 1 4 1 4 0 36 2
Bury Town 2013–14 SFL Premier Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Brackley Town 2013–14[80] National League North 15 2 0 0 0 0 15 2
King's Lynn Town 2014–15[84] NPL Premier Division 41 4 0 0 7 1 48 5
2015–16[84] SFL Premier Division 34 4 2 0 3 0 39 4
Total 75 8 2 0 0 0 10 1 87 9
St Neots Town 2017–18[84] SFL Premier Division 22 3 0 0 3 2 25 5
Career totals 386 48 23 1 2 0 40 13 451 62
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Conference League Cup, FA Trophy and Football League Trophy.

International

[edit]
National team Season Apps Goals
England C 2006–07[88] 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

[edit]

Histon

Kettering Town

Stevenage

St Neots Town

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 80. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
  2. ^ a b c d e "David Bridges all time playing career". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  3. ^ "David Bridges – ESPN". ESPN Soccernet. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "David Bridges – In Focus". Cambridge United F.C. 15 March 2006. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  5. ^ a b Stevenage Borough vs Salisbury City matchday programme. Stevenage F.C. 2008. p. 14.
  6. ^ "Cambridge 0–1 Huddersfield". BBC Sport. 16 March 2002. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Cambridge Utd 2001/2002 player appearances". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  8. ^ "Cambridge 2–1 Tranmere". BBC Sport. 13 April 2002. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  9. ^ a b "Cambridge Utd 2002/2003 player appearances". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  10. ^ "Cambridge 3–0 York". BBC Sport. 21 September 2002. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  11. ^ "U's hit by Bridges blow". BBC Sport. 19 June 2003. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  12. ^ "Wycombe 1–0 Cambridge". BBC Sport. 14 October 2003. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  13. ^ a b "Cambridge Utd 2003/2004 player appearances". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Chesterfield warn Bridges". BBC Sport. 8 July 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  15. ^ "Cobblers look at trio". BBC Sport. 18 August 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  16. ^ "Neil's goal keeps title hopes alive". Cambridge News. 23 March 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2009.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "Braintree Town 2–1 Slough Town". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  18. ^ "Hendon 1–3 Braintree Town". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  19. ^ "Braintree Town 2004–05 season". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  20. ^ "Now let's go and take title – Fallon". Cambridge News. 18 April 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2009.[permanent dead link]
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  22. ^ "Boss Newman is building Bridges". Cambridge News. 6 July 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2009.[permanent dead link]
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  25. ^ "Cambridge 2–1 Hereford". BBC Sport. 16 August 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  26. ^ "Cambridge 3–1 Accrington". BBC Sport. 20 August 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
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  28. ^ a b c "Cambridge Utd 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  29. ^ "Cambridge Utd 3–0 Gravesend". BBC Sport. 11 November 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  30. ^ "Southport 1–2 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  31. ^ "Cambridge Utd 0–2 St Albans". BBC Sport. 2 December 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  32. ^ "Cambridge Utd 3–0 Woking". BBC Sport. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  33. ^ "Stafford 1–2 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. 3 March 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  34. ^ "Castle leaves post at Cambridge". BBC Sport. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  35. ^ "David Bridges Playing career". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  36. ^ "Worcester City 2–3 Kettering Town". SoccerFactsUK. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  37. ^ "Kettering Town 2–1 Tamworth". SoccerFactsUK. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  38. ^ "Poppies march on at Hyde". Northants Evening Telegraph. 16 March 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2009.[permanent dead link]
  39. ^ a b "Kettering promoted as champions". BBC Sport. 5 April 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  40. ^ "Stevenage sign defender Anaclet". BBC Sport. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  41. ^ "Oxford 1–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 20 December 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  42. ^ "Stevenage Borough 4–0 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  43. ^ "Stevenage Borough 4–0 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  44. ^ "Ebbsfleet United 0–1 Stevenage Borough". BBC Sport. 21 March 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  45. ^ "Stevenage 1–1 Oxford". BBC Sport. 28 March 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  46. ^ a b "Stevenage Borough 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  47. ^ "Barrow 0–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  48. ^ "Stevenage 2–0 Ebbsfleet". BBC Sport. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  49. ^ "Stevenage 6–0 Vauxhall Motors". BBC Sport. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  50. ^ a b "Stevenage 1–0 York". BBC Sport. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  51. ^ "Stevenage 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  52. ^ a b "Barrow 2–1 Stevenage (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  53. ^ "Aldershot 1–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  54. ^ "Stevenage 0–2 Wycombe". Stevenage F.C. 2 October 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  55. ^ "Interview: Bridges on Wycombe". Stevenage F.C. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  56. ^ "Port Vale 1–3 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  57. ^ a b "Stevenage 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  58. ^ a b "Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay". BBC Sport. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  59. ^ a b "Kettering Town sign up David Bridges and Phil Ifil". BBC Sport. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  60. ^ "Bridges is back to bag medals". Evening Telegraph. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  61. ^ "Westley sad to see Bridges leave". The Comet. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  62. ^ "Lincoln City 0–2 Kettering". BBC Sport. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
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