David Dougal began his career with Dundee Hibernian in August 1902, moving on to Dundee at the end of that season. He had trials in England with Preston and Grimsby in 1904, but was not offered a deal and eventually signed for Clapton Orient in August 1905.

He spent a couple of years at the London club and played fifty times for them before joining Reading in 1907. The following February he signed for Brighton and Hove Albion and when Seagulls manager Frank Scott-Walford took over at Leeds City towards the end of the season, Dougal was one of a number of Albion players to follow him to Elland Road.

The Scot was given his City debut in the first game of the season, a goalless draw against his old club, Clapton Orient. According to Linesman in the Leeds Mercury, 'Dougal did not create a very favourable impression.' He was dropped and struggled to recover his place in the City first-team. He came back into contention in January, and won this praise from the same Linesman for his performance against Glossop on 13 February: 'Dougal ... appears to have come to stay, for after his display on Saturday it would be foolish not to persevere with him.'

Nevertheless, he drifted in and out of contention, making only ten appearances in his first season with the Peacocks. Things were little better in 1909/10, Dougal scoring once in fifteen games. He moved back to Scotland to sign for Montrose in November 1910 and later worked in the confectionery industry in the Dundee area.

He died on 5 March 1937.