David Worrall

Bury

Worrall began his career at Bury, where manager Chris Casper handed Worrall his first-team debut when Worrall was just 16-years old; he came on as an 81st-minute substitute for Jake Speight in a 2–0 defeat to Bristol Rovers at Gigg Lane on 18 November 2006. This proved to be his only appearance of the 2006–07 season, as he was sold by the "Shakers" before the end of the League Two campaign.

West Bromwich Albion

On 30 March 2007, Worrall joined West Bromwich Albion for a £50,000 fee, and signed on scholarship forms until the end of the 2006–07 season. In July 2007 he signed a three-year professional contract, becoming a member of West Brom's first-team squad. He suffered a poor start to his professional career, being sent off in a 2007–08 pre-season friendly with Hajduk Split; however manager Tony Mowbray said it was a "very harsh decision" and that 17-year old Worrall "looks like he's got all the right things you need to make it to the top". He made his Albion debut after coming on as a 75th-minute substitute for Filipe Teixeira in a 1–0 League Cup victory over Bournemouth at The Hawthorns on 14 August. This was his only appearance of the 2007–08 season, as the "Baggies" went on to secure promotion out of the Championship into the Premier League.

On 22 August 2008, Worrall joined John Coleman's League Two side Accrington Stanley on a one-month loan. He made his debut for Stanley the following day after coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 win over Macclesfield Town at the Crown Ground. He played a total of five games for the club before he was forced to return to West Brom for a hernia operation.

On 24 February 2009, Worrall joined fellow West Brom team mate, Luke Daniels, on an initial one-month loan at Shrewsbury Town; mnager Paul Simpson said that "there is no guarantee that he will go straight into the side [but] he's an enthusiastic, fit footballer who has good technical ability and I just feel that we need a little burst of enthusiasm and some legs in there who will make a difference for us". After he made six League Two appearances for the "Shrews", the loan was extended to keep him at the New Meadow until the end of the 2008–09 season. Shrewsbury qualified for the play-offs after finishing in seventh-place, and Worrall helped them to overcome former club Bury in the semi-finals to face Gillingham at Wembley Stadium. He was dropped to the bench for the final but came on as a 74th-minute substitute for Paul Murray, before Shrewsbury conceded a goal in the final minute of the game to lose 1–0.

Return to Bury

On 6 August 2009, Worrall rejoined League Two club Bury on loan. He scored his first goal in the English Football League in 2–0 win over Lincoln City at Gigg Lane on 26 September. The loan deal was made permanent on a free transfer after he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Bury on 8 January 2010. Manager Alan Knill said that "I think that he will settle in well and hopefully use Bury as a stepping stone for his career. He is a good age (19) for us and I think that he can go on to better things". He went on to score five goals from 42 appearances as Bury posted a ninth-place finish in 2009–10, just three points outside the play-off places. He was named as Bury's Young Player of the Year, and said that though he enjoyed his new position on the wings, he hoped to return to central midfield later in his career after gaining more experience and match awareness.

He scored two goals from 27 starts and 17 substitute appearances across the 2010–11 campaign as Bury secured promotion with a second-place finish. The second of his goals came in Bury's 3–2 win over league leaders Chesterfield on 25 April, a game which confirmed Bury's promotion into League One. In October 2011, he signed a contract extension to keep him tied to Bury until June 2014. He remained a first-team regular in League One despite short spells of injury and illness, and scored three goals from 45 matches as Bury posted a 14th-place finish in the 2011–12 season. He was voted the club's Player of the Season, and dedicated the award to central midfielders Steven Schumacher and Peter Sweeney.

The 2012–13 season proved to be a disaster however, as manager Richie Barker left days before the opening day. Worrall was then rushed to hospital after colliding with teammate Steven Schumacher in a 2–1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers on 21 August, though initial fears of a broken ankle proved unfounded as a scan showed no serious damage had been done. Kevin Blackwell was appointed as manager ahead of caretaker Peter Shirtliff, though he was unable to prevent the club from being relegated; Blackwell appointed Worrall as stand-in captain, and Worrall said that "I’m sorry for the gaffer and very disappointed in the people above him". Speaking in April 2013, Worrall criticised the club's board of directors, blaming them for the club's relegation and claiming that there had been no communication with the players in regards to the club's precarious financial position.

Rotherham United

On 20 June 2013, Worrall joined newly-promoted League One side Rotherham United on a two-year deal with the option of a third year; the transfer fee was undisclosed, but was reported to be a six-figure sum. Manager Steve Evans stated that "he will be a key player for us". He scored his first and only goal for the "Millers" in a 2–1 victory at Crawley Town on 17 August. However he suffered a groin injury not long afterwards and was sidelined after undergoing a hernia operation.

On 3 January 2014, Worrall joined divisional rivals Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season. Oldham manager Lee Johnson stated that he would later "like to come to some kind of agreement" to sign the player permanently. Worrall scored his first for the "Latics" in his second appearance for the club on 25 January, scoring the second goal of a 5–4 comeback win over Peterborough United at Boundary Park with a finish into the top right-hand corner on the edge of the box. In April, he stated that he would love to stay at Oldham, saying "I would love to stay here, the staff, the gaffer and the lads know that and I think it would be a good move for me". He made 18 appearances for Oldham as the club posted a 15th-place finish, whilst parent club Rotherham secured promotion with a penalty shoot-out victory over Leyton Orient in the play-off final.

Southend United

On 23 July 2014, Worrall returned to League Two by signing a two-year contract with Southend United after his contract at the New York Stadium was cancelled by mutual consent. He was given the League Two Player of the Month award for November after scoring three goals and providing two assists to help the "Seasiders" to win all four of their league fixtures that month. On 21 April, he scored the only goal of the game from a free-kick at former club Bury to keep Southend in contention for a finish in the automatic promotion places; he dedicated the goal to his baby son, Noah, who had recently died. Southend ended up finishing in fifth-place, though Worrall said the play-off games would help him to move on following his son's death. The "Shrimpers" secured promotion after beating Wycombe Wanderers on penalties in the play-off final; Worrall started the game but was substituted in extra-time. In total he scored six goals from 44 appearances during the 2014–15 campaign.

He was linked with a return to Bury in January 2016, and a swap deal with Danny Mayor was discussed. He was offered a new contract by the "Blues", but was even more strongly linked with Bury following Southend's 3–2 defeat at Gigg Lane on the final day of the season, and manager Phil Brown said he "thought David Worrall showed where he really wants to be [when] their fans virtually chair-lifted him off the pitch at the end of the game". He scored three goals from 40 appearances across the 2015–16 campaign, helping Southend to a 14th-place finish, before he left Roots Hall in the summer.

Millwall

On 15 June 2016, Worrall signed a two-year contract with Millwall, with the option of a further 12 months. Manager Neil Harris said that "he comes highly recommended from people that have worked with him". He scored his first goal for the "Lions" in a 2–2 draw at Milton Keynes Dons on 13 August. He scored two goals from 41 appearances across the 2016–17 season, though was mainly a substitute as he started only 17 matches. He was an unused substitute in the play-off final as Millwall secured promotion with a 1–0 victory over Bradford City. However he found himself behind Jed Wallace and Fred Onyedinma in the pecking order at The Den, and his contract was cancelled by mutual consent on 22 August 2017.

Port Vale

On 24 August 2017, Worrall signed a two-year contract with newly-relegated League Two side Port Vale. Manager Michael Brown said that "his experience speaks for itself... and hopefully he can use his experience and be another leader and that’s certainly what we need at this football club".

Style of play

Worrall is an attacking midfielder, able to play wide right or as a creative central midfielder. Speaking in July 2016, Millwall manager Neil Harris said that "he predominantly plays on the right side to cross the ball with his right foot from all different angles, but he is happy down the left on his left foot, too. He's quite an aggressive wide player with the ball and he isn't afraid to put his foot in and compete". Port Vale teammate Tom Pope described him as a hard working player.

Personal life

Worrall supported Manchester United as a boy.

Honours