David Wheeler (footballer)

Summary

David John Wheeler (born 4 October 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Wycombe Wanderers.

David Wheeler
Personal information
Full name David John Wheeler[1]
Date of birth (1990-10-04) 4 October 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth Brighton,[1] England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Right winger
Team information
Current team
Wycombe Wanderers
Number 7
Youth career
2000–2006 Brighton & Hove Albion
2006–2007 Lewes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2011 Lewes 88 (13)
2011–2013 Staines Town 70 (23)
2013–2017 Exeter City 149 (33)
2017–2019 Queens Park Rangers 9 (1)
2018–2019Portsmouth (loan) 11 (0)
2019Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 19 (4)
2019– Wycombe Wanderers 158 (17)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:10, 16 February 2024 (UTC)

Career edit

Lewes edit

Wheeler started his career at Lewes making his first start in the Conference Premier 2008–09 season against Torquay United. He scored his first senior goal against Altrincham, scored eight times the following season and four in his final season.

Staines Town edit

On 26 June 2011, due to travel commitments associated with his studies at Brunel University, Wheeler left Lewes and signed with Staines Town of the Conference South as it was the closest club to the campus.[3] He made his Staines debut on 13 August, and scored his first goals for the club on the 29th, in a 2–1 home win against Boreham Wood.[4] He finished the season with 9 goals, and was awarded both the Players Player and Club Player of the year awards. The following season, Wheeler scored a career-best 14 goals, which helped the club to avoid relegation, and repeated his achievements of the previous season by picking up both awards in the end of season honours. Wheeler was also captain of the team for the majority of his second season at the club.

Exeter City edit

On 2 August 2013, Wheeler signed a deal with Exeter City of Football League Two, after impressing on a trial.[5] He made his professional debut a day later, in a 2–1 home win against Bristol Rovers.[6] On 30 November 2013 Wheeler scored his first professional goal in a 2–2 draw against Bury. In the 2016–17 season, Wheeler played a pivotal role in helping Exeter City reach a League Two play-off final, by scoring 13 league goals and 20 goals in all competitions for City.[7] Wheeler was awarded as the Exeter City Player of the Year for this season.[8]

Queens Park Rangers edit

On 31 August 2017, Wheeler signed for Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.[9] Wheeler scored his first QPR goal in his first start for the club, opening the scoring in a 3–2 defeat to Middlesbrough.[10]

On 7 August 2018, Wheeler joined League One club Portsmouth on a season-long loan deal.[11] He scored his first goal for Portsmouth in a 4–0 EFL Trophy win over Gillingham on 4 September 2018.[12] QPR recalled Wheeler from his loan spell on 24 January 2019, he made a total of 18 appearances for Portsmouth in all competitions.[13] The following day, Wheeler joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons on loan for the remainder of the 2018–19 season, reuniting with his former manager at Exeter City, Paul Tisdale.[14]

Wycombe Wanderers edit

Wheeler signed for Wycombe Wanderers on 30 July 2019.[15] It was a free transfer on a three-year deal. On 26 January 2023, Wheeler published an article saying football should become less reliant on sponsorship and advertising from betting companies.[16]

International career edit

In 2008–09, Wheeler made 8 appearances for the England U18 Schoolboys.[17]

Career statistics edit

As of matches played 13 February 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lewes 2008–09[18] Conference National 19 1 19 1
2009–10[18] Conference South 38 8 38 8
2010–11[18] Conference South 31 4 31 4
Total 88 13 88 13
Staines Town 2011–12[18] Conference South 29 9 29 9
2012–13[18] Conference South 41 14 41 14
Total 70 23 70 23
Exeter City 2013–14[19] League Two 35 3 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 38 3
2014–15[20] League Two 45 7 1 0 1 0 0 0 47 7
2015–16[21] League Two 31 6 3 0 2 2 2[a] 0 38 8
2016–17[7] League Two 38 17 1 0 2 0 5[b] 4 46 21
2017–18[22] League Two 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 151 33 6 0 6 2 8 4 171 38
Queens Park Rangers 2017–18[22] Championship 9 1 0 0 0 0 9 1
2018–19[23] Championship 0 0 0 0
Total 9 1 0 0 0 0 9 1
Portsmouth (loan) 2018–19[23] League One 11 0 2 1 1 0 4[c] 2 18 3
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2018–19[23] League Two 19 4 19 4
Wycombe Wanderers 2019–20[24] League One 31 3 2 0 1 0 5[d] 1 39 4
2020–21[25] Championship 38 3 2 0 1 0 41 3
2021–22[26] League One 30 2 2 0 1 0 4[e] 0 37 2
2022–23[27] League One 37 7 1 0 0 0 1[c] 0 39 7
2023–24[28] League One 22 2 1 0 1 0 5[c] 0 29 2
Total 158 17 8 0 4 0 15 1 185 18
Career total 506 91 16 1 11 2 27 7 560 101
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Three appearances and two goals in 2017 EFL League Two play-offs, two appearances and two goals in EFL Trophy
  3. ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. ^ Three appearances and one goal in 2020 EFL League One play-offs, two appearances in EFL Trophy
  5. ^ Two appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in EFL League One play-offs

Honours edit

Milton Keynes Dons

Wycombe Wanderers

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ a b "David Wheeler". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  2. ^ "David Wheeler". wycombewanderers.co.uk. Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. ^ Wheeler leaves Lewes; The Argus, 26 June 2011
  4. ^ Staines Town vs. Boreham Wood 2–1; Global Sports Media, 29 August 2011
  5. ^ Wheeler deal done; Exeter City, 2 August 2013
  6. ^ Exeter 2–1 Bristol Rovers; BBC Sport, 3 August 2013
  7. ^ a b "Games played by David Wheeler in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  8. ^ a b "End-of-season Gala Ball: The award winners". Exeter City F.C. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  9. ^ "David Wheeler joins QPR". www.qpr.co.uk. 31 August 2017.
  10. ^ "David Wheeler scoops the plaudits with goal in first start for QPR". Devon Live. 16 September 2017.
  11. ^ "David Wheeler: Portsmouth sign QPR winger on loan". BBC Sport. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Pompey 4 Gillingham 0". portsmouthfc.co.uk. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Wheeler recalled from Portsmouth loan". QPR FC. 24 January 2019.
  14. ^ "David Wheeler: QPR winger joins MK Dons on loan until the end of the season". BBC Sport. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Wheeler's a Wanderer!". wwfc.com. 30 July 2019.
  16. ^ Wheeler, David (26 January 2023). "As a footballer I am surrounded by gambling ads. This needs to stop | David Wheeler". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  17. ^ ESFA Under 18 Squad 2008–2009; ESFA.co.uk, 13 November 2010
  18. ^ a b c d e "D. Wheeler". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  19. ^ "Games played by David Wheeler in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  20. ^ "Games played by David Wheeler in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  21. ^ "Games played by David Wheeler in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Games played by David Wheeler in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  23. ^ a b c "Games played by David Wheeler in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Games played by David Wheeler in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Games played by David Wheeler in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  26. ^ "Games played by David Wheeler in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Games played by David Wheeler in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  28. ^ "Games played by David Wheeler in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  29. ^ "League Two: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
    "MK Dons: Squad details: 2018/19". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  30. ^ Williams, Adam (13 July 2020). "Oxford United 1–2 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  31. ^ Harby, Chris (7 April 2024). "Peterborough United 2–1 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Player Profile: Midfielder David Wheeler". Queens Park Rangers F.C. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  33. ^ "Staines chairman plays Wheeler waiting game". GetSurrey.co.uk. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2019.

External links edit

  • David Wheeler at Soccerway
  • David Wheeler at Soccerbase  
  • David Wheeler player profile at Exeter City
  • Aylesbury United player profile