David Charles Tarpey (born 14 November 1988) is an English former footballer who plays as a forward for Reading City, where he is also assistant manager.
Career Tarpey began his career at Henley Town, where he played for two years in the senior team before joining Basingstoke Town in 2007. After two years with Basingstoke, he joined Hampton & Richmond Borough to seek more frequent first-team football. Tarpey broke into the first team following loan spells with Walton & Hersham and Chertsey Town, before joining Farnborough in June 2012 after turning down a new contract at the Beveree.Tarpey keen to commit to HamptonDeparting striker backs Boro to bounce back
Tarpey scored 13 league goals in eighteen months at the Yellows before his contract was cancelled in January 2014 by mutual consent. He then re-joined Hampton.Tarpey to bring 'Maradona magic' to Beveree
For the 2014–15 season, Tarpey joined Maidenhead United. After 36 league goals in his first two seasons, he scored 44 goals in 41 league games in the 2016–17 season as Maidenhead won the National League South, a new record for the league.Dave Tarpey: Maidenhead United striker breaks National League South goal record
He turned down an offer from Coventry City in summer 2017Boss lets Dave Tarpey leave work early to travel 225 miles and bag four goals and signed a new contract with the Magpies.Tarpey: I'm staying at Maidenhead United He opened his first season in the National League with seven goals in his first six games, before signing for Barnet on 31 August 2017 which enabled him to leave his full-time job as a fire & security alarm installer. Tarpey injured his anterior cruciate ligament in his second appearance for the Bees, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2017–18 season. Tarpey returned from injury in October 2018 before re-joining Maidenhead on loan on 26 November 2018.Magpies announce Tarps transfer
On 4 February 2019, Tarpey reunited with former manager, Alan Dowson at Woking on a 28-day loan. He scored his first goal for the club in his second appearance against East Thurrock United. He returned to Barnet and scored for them for the first time on 19 March against Harrogate Town. Tarpey turned down the offer of a new contract from the Bees and left the club at the end of the 2018–19 season in order to return to part-time football.
On 23 May 2019, it was confirmed in an interview by Alan Dowson that Tarpey would be rejoining Woking on a permanent contract for the following season. He scored nine goals in 51 games for the Cards before joining Isthmian League side Bracknell Town for the 2021–22 season. Following just one campaign in Berkshire with Bracknell, Tarpey announced he would be leaving the club in May 2022, with thirty appearances and nineteen goals to his name.
On 18 May 2022, after leaving Bracknell, Tarpey opted to join newly-relegated, Leatherhead for the 2022–23 campaign. On 17 August 2023, Tarpey joined Hungerford Town on a short-term loan. Tarpey was then loaned to Gosport Borough in September 2023.
On 15 November 2023, Leatherhead announced that Tarpey was leaving the club amicably and by mutual consent, with the player's desire to get more first team football being a key reason. Two days later, Isthmian South Central rivals Marlow announced that Tarpey had joined the club.
On 17 October 2024, Tarpey announced his retirement from football after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament as well as suffering ligament damage. He was then appointed as attacking coach at Reading City, before being appointed assistant manager ahead of the 2025-26 season. Tarpey also returned to playing that season.https://readingcityfc.co.uk/2025/10/27/i-didnt-expect-to-be-playing-but-ive-enjoyed-it-non-league-legend-comes-out-of-retirement-amid-injury-crisis/
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHenley Town2005–06Hellenic League Premier DivisionNo data currently available2006–07Hellenic League Division One EastNo data currently availableBasingstoke Town2007–08Conference South251———2512008–09Conference South363———363Total614———614Hampton & Richmond Borough2009–10Conference South3210———32102010–11Conference South397——204172011–12Conference South3810——464216Total10927——6611531Walton & Hersham (loan)2009–10Isthmian League Division One South8600000086Chertsey Town (loan)2009–10CCL Premier DivisionNo data currently availableFarnborough2012–13Conference South36911—2039102013–14Conference South20420—21245Total561331—416315Hampton & Richmond Borough2013–14Isthmian League Premier Division201100—002011Maidenhead United2014–15Conference South372030—3243222015–16National League South401663—2248212016–17National League South414410—2144452017–18National League6700—0067Total12487103—7514195Barnet2017–18League Two20000000202018–19National League15100—00151Total171000000171Maidenhead United (loan)2018–19National League3000—0030Woking (loan)2018–19National League South7300—0073Woking2019–20National League36820—103982020–21National League10110—10121Total46930—20519Bracknell Town2021–22Isthmian League South Central Division251721—313019Leatherhead2022–23Isthmian League South Central Division321622—4038182023–24Isthmian League South Central Division3000—0030Total351622—404118Hungerford Town (loan)2023–24SFL Premier Division South61———61Gosport Borough (loan)2023–24SFL Premier Division South2010——30Marlow2023–24Isthmian League South Central Division252000—5430242024–25SFL Premier Division South8210—10102Total332210—644026Career total689219227003017590228
Honours Maidenhead United National League South: 2016–17
Bracknell Town Isthmian League South Central Division: 2021–22
Individual National League South Golden Boot: 2016–17 National League South Player of the Year: 2016-17
References
External links