David Speedie signed for Darlington in 1980 from Barnsley for £6,000. It was money well spent because the Scottish born player moved to Chelsea around two years later for £80,000.

Born in Scotland but raised in Yorkshire, Speedie worked as a coalminer before signing professional terms with Barnsley in 1978. Without having scored a goal for Barnsley in twenty-one appearances, he moved to Darlington. During his first season at the club Speedie operated from midfield. During his first campaign Speedie missed only two games but netted just four times.

The following season (1981/82) saw Speedie switch to the forward line where he hit an impressive total of seventeen league goals in a side which finished just below mid-table. Speedie was spotted by then-Chelsea manager John Neal, who signed him for £80,000 in May 1982.

Speedie went on to form a superb partnership with Kerry Dixon at Stamford Bridge. Speedie's strength, scoring prowess, work-rate and unlikely heading ability (he was only 5ft 7in tall) perfectly complemented both Dixon and winger Pat Nevin as the trio notched up almost 200 goals between them in three years.

Before the arrival of Nevin and Dixon, however, Speedie had played an important part in Chelsea's survival in the Second Division a year earlier, with his seven goals (including two on his debut against Oldham Athletic) that season proving crucial. In 1986, he became the first player since Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick at Wembley, as Chelsea defeated Manchester City 5-4 in the Full Members Cup final.

Having scored 64 goals in 205 appearances for the West London side, Speedie joined Coventry City for £750,000 in July 1987 following a disagreement with manager John Hollins. He enjoyed four years at Coventry and remained a high-profile top flight player, equaling his Chelsea strike rate during this period.

He scored a number of memorable goals whilst maintaining his Scottish international place. After 1991, Speedie joined a succession of clubs, including Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, West Ham United, Southampton and finally Leicester City.