David George Durie (13 August 1931 – 30 August 2016) was an English professional footballer widely admired for his prolific scoring ability and exemplary conduct, spending the majority of his career at Blackpool Football Club. Born and raised in Blackpool, Durie attended Revoe School and signed with his hometown club in 1952. Initially brought in as cover for Allan Brown, he gradually carved out his own place in the team. He made his league debut on 23 February 1953 in a 2–0 defeat to Charlton Athletic and scored his first goal later that season in a 5–1 loss at Middlesbrough.
In the early years of his career, Durie’s appearances were sporadic, but his impact grew steadily. By the 1955–56 season, with Brown sidelined due to injury, Durie stepped up impressively, netting 14 goals in just 15 league appearances. That season also marked his FA Cup debut in the match against Manchester City, but was abandoned due to fog. In 1956–57, he became Blackpool’s second-highest scorer with 22 goals in all competitions. Among his standout performances was a hat-trick in a 3–2 win at Everton in front of 55,000 fans and his first FA Cup goal in a 6–2 win against Fulham. His decisive goals helped push Blackpool through several FA Cup rounds, including a crucial strike in a fourth-round replay against Bristol City and another in the fifth round before their eventual elimination.
Durie continued to deliver key performances, including two hat-tricks in the 1959–60 season—one in a 4–1 league win over Burnley and another in an FA Cup third-round tie against Mansfield Town, where he scored all three goals. He also made club history in 1960–61 by becoming the first Blackpool player to score in the Football League, FA Cup, and the newly established League Cup, finding the net in a second-round replay against Leeds United. Despite a positional change under manager Ron Suart that reduced his goal tally, Durie remained a regular first-team presence. His final Blackpool appearance came on 28 December 1964 in a 1–0 loss to Chelsea, having scored just two days earlier in the reverse fixture.
In 1964, Durie moved to Chester, where he transitioned into midfield and contributed to their remarkable 119-goal season in 1964–65. He also featured in their high-profile FA Cup third-round clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. In 1967, he joined Fleetwood and was appointed player-manager in February 1968. Unfortunately, his managerial tenure was cut short after breaking his leg during the club’s first match in the newly formed Northern Premier League.
Durie was as respected for his sportsmanship as he was for his footballing ability. In December 1963, a vote by managers, players, and the Professional Footballers’ Association named him the best example of a player never to have been booked or sent off in over 300 games. A devout Methodist, Durie also taught Sunday school and would not play on Christian holidays, notably sitting out a Good Friday derby against Preston North End in April 1958. He passed away in August 2016 at the age of 85, remembered as a gentleman of the game whose integrity and talent left a lasting impression on English football.
David Durie, the Blackpool inside left, heads away a Manchester United free kick during the First Division Match. 7 April 1956
Premier League Division One Arsenal v Blackpool – Highbury – 26 September 1959
Portrait of David durie, Blackpool Football Club – 11 October 1961
