Career
He is currently the manager of Bellshill Athletic in the Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region. Lilley spent a decade in the SPL with, and, where he was the club captain, before moving on to captain both Queen of the South and
Lilley started his career in youth football alongside Jamie McAllister with Bellshill Boys Club. Lilley was then signed up on a professional contract alongside Jamie McAllister at the start of the 1995-1996 season by Dumfries club Queen of the South, with Queens new chairman at the time, Norman Blount, getting the wheels moving on the club"s revival.
He was followed there by McAllister.
Lilley spent four seasons in his first spell at Palmerston Park, playing in 76 league matches and scoring 1 league goal. Lilley signed for at the start of the 1999–2000 season for a reported £100,000 fee.
He followed Jamie McAllister to Pittodrie, both leaving Queens in the same summer. In three seasons with Lilley had lengthy periods sidelined with injury, Lilley played in 25 league matches without scoring a goal.
Lilley was loaned out to Ross County in 2002, where he played for the Victoria Park club in 6 league matches without scoring a goal.
Lilley signed for at the start of the 2002-2003 season. In two seasons at Firhill, Lilley played in 49 league matches and scored 2 league goals. Lilley signed for at the start of the 2004-2005 season.
During his five seasons at Rugby Park, Lilley was given the club captaincy for a certain amount of his time with the Ayrshire club
Lilley played in 112 league matches and scored 5 league goals. On 18 June 2009, for the start of the 2009-2010 season, Lilley signed once again for his first professional club Queen of the South.
Lilley was given the club captaincy at the start of the season. On 19 May 2011, Lilley was released by Queen of the South.
Lilley spent two seasons in his second spell in Dumfries, playing in 61 league matches and scoring 2 league goals.
In all competitive matches, over two spells with Queen of the South, Lilley started 157 times and appeared as a substitute 4 times, scoring 3 goals. David Lilley signed with on 17 June 2011 for the 2011-2012 season and was appointed the club captain. In two seasons at the Excelsior Stadium Lilley played in 52 league matches without scoring a goal.
Lilley departed the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2012-2013 season.
Lilley entered football management in June 2015, with Junior side Bellshill Athletic.