# David Wheeler (footballer)

David John Wheeler (born 4 October 1886) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Shrewsbury Town.

## Club career
### Lewes

Wheeler started his career at Lewes making his first start in the Conference Premier 2008–09 season against Torquay United. He scored his first senior goal against Altrincham, scored eight times the following season and four in his final season.

### Staines Town

On 26 June 2011, due to travel commitments associated with his studies at Brunel University, Wheeler left Lewes and signed with Staines Town of the Conference South as it was the closest club to the campus. He made his Staines debut on 13 August, and scored his first goals for the club on the 29th, in a 2–1 home win against Boreham Wood. He finished the season with 9 goals, and was awarded both the Players Player and Club Player of the year awards. The following season, Wheeler scored a career-best 14 goals, which helped the club to avoid relegation, and repeated his achievements of the previous season by picking up both awards in the end of season honours. Wheeler was also captain of the team for the majority of his second season at the club.

### Exeter City

On 2 August 2013, Wheeler signed a deal with Exeter City of Football League Two, after impressing on a trial. He made his professional debut a day later, in a 2–1 home win against Bristol Rovers. On 30 November 2013 Wheeler scored his first professional goal in a 2–2 draw against Bury. In the 2016–17 season, Wheeler played a pivotal role in helping Exeter City reach a League Two play-off final, by scoring 13 league goals and 20 goals in all competitions for City. Wheeler was awarded as the Exeter City Player of the Year for this season.

### Queens Park Rangers

On 31 August 2017, Wheeler signed for Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal. Wheeler scored his first QPR goal in his first start for the club, opening the scoring in a 3–2 defeat to Middlesbrough.
On 7 August 2018, Wheeler joined League One club Portsmouth on a season-long loan deal. He scored his first goal for Portsmouth in a 4–0 EFL Trophy win over Gillingham on 4 September 2018. QPR recalled Wheeler from his loan spell on 24 January 2019, he made a total of 18 appearances for Portsmouth in all competitions. The following day, Wheeler joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons on loan for the remainder of the 2018–19 season, reuniting with his former manager at Exeter City, Paul Tisdale.

### Wycombe Wanderers

Wheeler signed for Wycombe Wanderers on 30 July 2019. It was a free transfer on a three-year deal. On 26 January 2023, Wheeler published an article saying football should become less reliant on sponsorship and advertising from betting companies.
On 5 February 2025, Wheeler was announced to have departed the club, his contract having been terminated by mutual consent prior to the transfer deadline to allow him to join a new club.

### Shrewsbury Town

On 20 February 2025, Wheeler joined League One side Shrewsbury Town on a short-term contract until the end of the season, reuniting with former-Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth.

## International career

In 2008–09, Wheeler made eight appearances for the England U18 Schoolboys.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 1 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Lewes | 2008–09 | Conference National | 19 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 1 |
| Lewes | 2009–10 | Conference South | 38 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | 8 |
| Lewes | 2010–11 | Conference South | 31 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 4 |
| Lewes | Total | Total | 88 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 88 | 13 |
| Staines Town | 2011–12 | Conference South | 29 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 9 |
| Staines Town | 2012–13 | Conference South | 41 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | 14 |
| Staines Town | Total | Total | 70 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 70 | 23 |
| Exeter City | 2013–14 | League Two | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 3 |
| Exeter City | 2014–15 | League Two | 45 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 7 |
| Exeter City | 2015–16 | League Two | 31 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 8 |
| Exeter City | 2016–17 | League Two | 38 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 46 | 21 |
| Exeter City | 2017–18 | League Two | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Exeter City | Total | Total | 151 | 33 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 171 | 38 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2017–18 | Championship | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 1 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2018–19 | Championship | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Queens Park Rangers | Total | Total | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 1 |
| Portsmouth (loan) | 2018–19 | League One | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 3 |
| Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 2018–19 | League Two | 19 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 4 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2019–20 | League One | 31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 39 | 4 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2020–21 | Championship | 38 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 3 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2021–22 | League One | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 2 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2022–23 | League One | 37 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 7 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2023–24 | League One | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 41 | 3 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2024–25 | League One | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | Total | Total | 173 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 209 | 19 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2024–25 | League Two | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 523 | 92 | 19 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 32 | 7 | 586 | 102 |
* 1 2 Appearances in Football League Trophy
* ↑ Three appearances and two goals in 2017 EFL League Two play-offs, two appearances and two goals in EFL Trophy
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in EFL Trophy
* ↑ Three appearances and one goal in 2020 EFL League One play-offs, two appearances in EFL Trophy
* ↑ Two appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in EFL League One play-offs

## Honours

Milton Keynes Dons
* EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2018–19
Wycombe Wanderers
* EFL League One play-offs: 2020
* EFL Trophy runner-up: 2023–24
Individual
* Staines Town Player of the Year: 2011–12, 2012–13
* Exeter City Player of the Year: 2016–17