David Herd

Stockport County

Herd was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire but grew up in Manchester as his father Alex was playing for Manchester City and later Stockport County where Herd Jr. began his career. He made his debut on the final day of the 1950–51 season with his father and he scored as County beat Hartlepools United 2–0. His appearances for Stockport were limited by his national service duties. He scored five goals in 12 games in 1953–54 and he attracted the attentions of First Division clubs.

Arsenal

Herd did well enough to attract the attention of Arsenal, who signed him for £10,000 in 1954. Herd made his Arsenal debut on 19 February 1955 against Leicester City. Herd continued to be a bit part player, playing just eight games in his first two seasons at the club, before making his breakthrough in 1956–57, scoring 18 goals in 28 games that season. From then on he was an established goalscorer, being the club's top goalscorer for four seasons straight, from 1956–57 through to 1960–61 – when he hit 29 goals, the most by an Arsenal player since Ronnie Rooke. However, Arsenal's poor form meant they were nowhere near winning a trophy, the closest coming was a third place in the league in 1958–59. Despite being top scorer in 1960–61, Herd was unsettled at Arsenal due to their lack of success, and he moved to Manchester United in July 1961 for £35,000. In all he scored 107 goals for Arsenal in 180 appearances, making him the club's 15th highest goalscorer.

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He won his first cap for Scotland, on 18 October 1958 against Wales at Ninian Park; Scotland won 3–0. Herd won five caps in total for Scotland between 1958 and 1961, scoring three goals, his last cap coming in a 4–0 defeat by Czechoslovakia on 14 May 1961.

After retiring from playing, he had a stint managing Lincoln City between 1971 and 1972.

Born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Herd was the son of former Manchester City player Alec Herd and the nephew of Scottish international Sandy Herd. He died on 1 October 2016. Players of former clubs Manchester United and Stoke City wore black arm bands when they played each other the next day. His small, family funeral on 14 October at Middlebie in Dumfriesshire was in the same cemetery as his parents who spent their latter years living in Ecclefechan.