Dave Williams started out in the Lancashire Combination with St Helen’s Recreation, and progressed to the Football League with Glossop in September 1912.
After making rapid progress with the Second Division side he was transferred to Notts County for an enormous £700 fee two months later, part of an unsuccessful attempt to keep the ‘Magpies’ in the First Division, but County then bounced straight back, lifting the Second Division title in 1914 with Dave contributing two goals from seven outings.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted with the Army, and assisted Arsenal in 1916-17 while stationed in the London area. On his demob in July 1919 the Liverpool-born utility man joined Luton Town in the Southern League and netted five goals in 23 games during the first half of 1919-20.
In February 1920, Dave joined the Albion for £200, a big fee for a Southern League player at the time and equalling the Brighton record. Capable of turning effective performances wherever selected to play, he scored on his debut at left-half, and went on to appear at right-half and in all the forward positions. Indeed, the constant switching of positions to cove for absent colleagues probably cost him a more regular place in the team, and he was largely confined to the reserves following the signing of Andy Neil in December 1920.
Granted a free transfer in May 1921 Dave moved into the Kent League with Maidstone United.