Date of birth: August 17th, 1964

Place of birth: Wakefield

Previous clubs: (Playing career) Derby County, Oxford United, Swansea City, Cardiff City and Doncaster Rovers.

Previous clubs: (Managerial career) Doncaster Rovers 2001-2006

Dave Penney was appointed Darlington manager in late October 2006. He entered professional football at the relatively late age of twenty-one. Prior to this Penney spent five years as a bricklayer and played for Pontefract Colleries and was given his big chance in the professional game by Derby County.

After a playing career with Derby, Oxford, Swansea and Cardiff, he hung up his boots with Doncaster Rovers and made a sensational impact there as manager. In the time with Rovers he guided the club from the Conference and back into the Football League. Doncaster's stay in League 2 was a short one as Penney guided them to a second promotion and then two well placed finishes in League One in seasons 2004-05 and 2005-06.

During his time at Doncaster he famously masterminded victories over Premiership sides Manchester City and Aston Villa and nearly overcame the mighty Arsenal in the Carling Cup quarter finals before finally being beaten in a penalty shootout.

Early during the 2006-07 campaign Penney left Doncaster as he looked to recharge his batteries. His brief spell out of the game ended in late October when he was appointed manager of the Quakers.