David Noble, who started at Arsenal and also played for West Ham, technically had three separate spells at Exeter City between 2010 and 2016. His final City stint was at the end of hIs professional career before he went into non-league with St Albans City where he was later manager.

David became an Arsenal trainee in 1998 and signed professional in 1999. He played in Arsenal’s 1999/2000 Youth Cup-winning side and also represented England at various age groups through to under-20. Without playing in Arsenal’s first team David had a loan spell at Watford before joining West Ham where he played several first-team games as well as switching his international allegiance to Scotland for whom he quickly played at under-21 and B level. On leaving West Ham in 2004, David played for Boston United - then in the Football League - and Bristol City where he featured around ninety times.       

Released from Ashton Gate in 2010, following a serious injury, David spent time rehabilitating with Exeter City before making his debut in the opening League One game of 2010/11 against Colchester. All told David was to make 42 league and cup appearances that season as the club finished 8th in League One. Now club captain, David was to make a further 46 appearances in all competitions - scoring three goals - as City were relegated in 2012.

David left St James Park in May 2012 to join Rotherham ostensibly on a two-year contract which was effectively seen out on loan at Cheltenham Town in his second season. An unsuccessful move to Oldham followed where, after just two substitute appearances, David was loaned to Exeter City in September 2014. He played in a dozen games before returning to Boundary Park in December where, three weeks later, his contract was cancelled.

This enabled David to join City on a permanent basis in January 2015 although he was only able to play four more games that season. David played a further 33 times in 2015/16 prior to his release from Exeter in May 2016. After having played 137 times in his City career, David’s final Exeter game - at Luton on 7 May 2016 - proved to be the end of his professional career.    

Yet David was far from finished with football. In August 2016 he joined St Albans City, close to where he had grown-up, and played for the National League South club through to 2022. Following the sacking of Ian Allinson in September 2022, David took over as the club’s interim head coach with his position being made permanent in November 2022. After just over a year in charge he moved to take the manager's job at Wealdstone in January 2024 where he was dismissed in April 2024 in advance of returning to his former head coach role at St Albans a month later. With the club suffering a poor start to the season, David left his position again in November 2024.