David
Harle was born on 15 August 1963 in Denaby, Yorkshire, and came through
the youth set-up at Doncaster Rovers. After earning England youth honours,
he joined Doncaster’s senior ranks in November 1980 and went on to make
61 league appearances across two seasons, scoring three goals. His industrious
midfield performances caught the eye of Exeter City, who signed him in
July 1982. At Exeter, Harle quickly became a regular starter, featuring
in 43 league games during the 198283 season and netting six goals — including
a brace against Oxford United in March — firmly establishing himself as
a capable attacking presence in midfield.
In September 1983, he returned to Doncaster Rovers — then managed by
Billy Bremner, a Leeds United legend — and enjoyed a prolific second spell.
Over two seasons, he amassed 83 league appearances and scored 17 goals,
enhancing his reputation as a dependable midfield operator with a knack
for timely contributions
In December 1985, when Bremner took over as manager of Leeds United,
he brought Harle to Elland Road for a fee of £5,000. The pick-up reflected
Bremner’s trust in Harle’s talents gained at Doncaster two years earlier.
Harle made his Leeds debut on New Year's Day 1986 in a Division Two match
at home to Oldham Athletic, contributing to a 3–1 victory. He followed
that with starts against Sunderland and Barnsley in January and February
1986, respectively. In total, he made three league appearances for Leeds
United — all starts — but scored no goals before his departure in June
1986.
Despite showing professionalism and tactical discipline during those
outings, Harle found first-team opportunities hard to come by. Leeds were
undergoing a period of transition and squad rebuilding—relegated to the
Second Division and desperate for promotion. Yet Harle's midfield role
saw limited minutes amid fresh signings and tactical shifts. His short-term
impact, while respected by staff, was too fleeting to secure a future
beyond the end of the 1985/86 campaign.
By March 1986, Harle was loaned to Bristol City and later made the move
permanent that June for around £10,000. At Bristol City, he featured substantially—making
23 league appearances and scoring two goals during the 1986/87 season—before
moving on to Scunthorpe United by November 1986 OzWhite's Leeds United
.
It was at Scunthorpe that Harle rediscovered consistency. He made 89
league appearances and scored ten goals between 1986 and 1989, earning
Player of the Season honours for 1987/88. His combative midfield style
and reliable passing endeared him to fans and teammates alike, establishing
him as a key figure in Scunthorpe's engine room.
After leaving Scunthorpe in March 1989, Harle joined Peterborough United
for a fee of about £15,000. In Cambridge hours of Football League action,
he made 22 starts and scored twice. In March 1990, he returned to Doncaster
Rovers for a third spell, featuring in 45 league matches over the next
two seasons and adding three more goals to his career tally.
As his professional career wound down, Harle had brief spells in non-league
football with Stafford Rangers (loan), Goole Town, and Mossley in 1992/93
— registering only a couple of appearances before retiring from the game
and eventually working for the council in Doncaster.
In total, Harle made 369 league appearances and scored 43 goals across
eight League clubs — Doncaster (three spells), Exeter, Leeds United, Bristol
City, Scunthorpe, and Peterborough. His career path typified that of a
hardworking midfielder: consistent, reliable, and resilient, if not always
under the limelight.
Reflecting more specifically on his time at Leeds United in the mid-1980s,
Harle arrived during one of the club’s more difficult periods: relegation
to the Second Division, financial constraints, and a squad in the process
of being reshaped. His move was orchestrated by manager Billy Bremner,
who trusted Harle from his Doncaster days. Harle's three league starts
during January-February 1986 coincided with Leeds attempting to rebuild
promotion momentum — but results and performances were mixed. Nevertheless,
his disciplined work rate and tactical awareness offered an injection
of professionalism to a young, unsettled squad.
Despite his short involvement, Harle’s presence is remembered by the
fanbase as one of several second-tier signings aimed at steadying the
midfield. Fan commentary suggests he 'never did much at Leeds', yet credit
is given to Bremner for valuing him enough to bring him in for squad depth
during challenging times.
After leaving Elland Road, Harle resumed a career that saw him find real
purpose at clubs where opportunities were more plentiful. At Scunthorpe,
he flourished; at Bristol City and Peterborough he continued to deliver
steady performances. Though his Leeds chapter was brief, the experience
of playing in Leeds' senior team — however briefly — placed him on a broader
stage and offered exposure to the demands of a high-profile club during
a rebuilding phase. That short stint became a notable footnote in a career
otherwise rooted in lower-division consistency and professionalism.
