Career
An early signing by George Curtis & John Sillett, Phillips was a useful player to have in any squad due to his versatility, as he could play on either flank both defensively and offensively. He was probably at his peak during the 86/87 FA Cup winning season, where the team spent the entire season in the top ten. As at Manchester City, Phillips was a strong industrious midfielder that could drop back into a defensive position if need be, but it was his long range striking ability which often caught the eye.
His three seasons at Coventry (86–89) coincide with some of the most stable and successful times in the clubs history.
The £550,000 fee that Norwich City paid Coventry for him in 1989 was at the time a club record. He was part of the Norwich side that finished third in the inaugural Premiership season 1992-1993, but left the club in the summer of 1993 after a contract dispute, joining Nottingham Forest.
He was capped a total of 62 times for Wales, scoring twice. His last cap came on 24 January 1996 in a 3–0 friendly defeat to Italy.
David"s son Aaron Phillips is a professional football player on the books of and he has also spent time on loan at Nuneaton Town.