David Copeland (2 April 1875 â 16 November 1931) was a professional footballer who played for Ayr Parkhouse, Walsall Town Swifts, Bedminster, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Glossop North End.
Copeland a forward played for his local team Ayr Parkhouse before joining Walsall Town Swifts in 1893 where he featured in 76 matches, scoring on 19 occasions. After playing for Bedminster in 1898âÂÂ99, Copeland joined Tottenham Hotspur in May 1899. His first game for Spurs was an away match in the Southern League against Millwall which Tottenham won 3âÂÂ1. He helped Tottenham to win the Southern Football League in the 1899âÂÂ1900 season and in the following season of 1900âÂÂ01 he helped guide the club to their first FA Cup win. He moved on to Chelsea in 1905 and featured in 26 matches and finding the net nine times, up until he broke his leg which nearly finished his career. Copeland ended his career at Glossop North End where he made a further two appearances.
After finishing football he worked at the Rose and Crown hotel in Erdington in Birmingham. It was reported and noted in Goodwins Spurs Alphabet that Copeland collapsed and died while chopping wood.
Tottenham Hotspur