Formerly a youth player with Bristol City, David Brown played for Exeter City's youth and reserve teams in the mid-1970s.

From Exeter, he had reportedly been an apprentice with Bristol City before playing for the Grecians reserves in the South Western League in 1974/75..

Also appearing for the under-18s in the Devon and Exeter Youth League and South West and Wales Youth League, he later played for Barnstaple Town.