David Court

Who is David Court?

David John Court is an English former footballer, now turned coach.

Court joined Arsenal as a schoolboy in 1959, turning professional in January 1962. Initially a centre forward or inside forward, he was a regular goalscorer for the Gunners' youth and reserve sides. He made his first-team debut against Aston Villa on 10 September 1962, in a 2-1 defeat and went on to make fourteen league appearances over the next two seasons.

At the start of the 1964-65 season, Arsenal manager Billy Wright switched Court to the right wing, and he became a regular there for that season, playing 35 times, before being switched to right back in 1965-66, where again he was a regular for the season, playing 38 times. Wright was dismissed as Arsenal manager and many players left the club as a result, but Court continued to stay at the club for the next three seasons as a utility player.

Court played every position bar goalkeeper under Wright's successor Bertie Mee, although he played fewer matches - a total of only 31 over Mee's first two seasons. However, 1968-69 saw him return as a first-team regular – he played 51 matches that season, including the Gunners' League Cup Final loss to Swindon Town at Wembley Stadium.