Ted Bates, Southampton’s manager, missed Terry Paine’s wedding because he was in Scotland signing David Paton, a 19-year old centre-half. Dave had a Scottish Youth cap, a father who had played in goal during the 30s for Queen’s Park and – maybe most importantly to Southampton’s skinflint manager – was available on a free transfer.

He admitted some time afterwards the only thing he knew about Southampton was his fiancée’s father had been stationed there prior to D-Day.

He became Bates’s constant Reserves centre-half, never letting himself down when called upon, but never forcing his way into first-team contention by right.

He was, however, lead-singer with a group called the Sunsets, that included goalkeeper Gerry Gurr on guitar and forward Mick Judd on drums. (See Gerry Gurr’s profile for photograph). They used to play at Phil Trant’s After Eight night club in Shirley. David had a broad Scottish brogue, but Gurr insists that “he was more comprehensible when singing than when he was speaking.” Like Roy Orbison, Gerry points out.

After six years of standing-by, he was sold to Jimmy Melia’s Aldershot. News of the transfer was conveyed to Gurr by Ted Bates, as they boarded the team bus. “I’ve just sold your singer,” he was told. At his subsequent club, Margate, the FA Cup draws meant that he had to mark a future Saint and an ex-Saint, in turn. In 1971-72, the opponent was Ted MacDougall, who scored nine times in Bournemouth’s 11-0 win.

Then, when Margate entertained Spurs the following season, Martin Chivers begged Dave not to make him laugh, lest it upset Tottenham’s manager, Bill Nicholson. After which, Dave returned to Scotland, to work as a forklift driver for Hyster in Irvine, until he became involved in the electronics industry. Having semi- retired in 1998, he continued to live in Kilwinning in Ayrshire, working part-time for a courier company.