| Dave Serella | |
| Birth Date: | 1952 9, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Kings Lynn, England |
| Position: | Central Defender |
| Years1: | 1970–1974 |
| Years2: | 1974–1982 |
| Years3: | 1982–1984 |
| Caps1: | 65 |
| Caps2: | 267 |
| Caps3: | 44 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 12 |
| Goals3: | 5 |
| Totalcaps: | 376 |
| Totalgoals: | 17 |
David Serella (born 24 September 1952) is an English former professional footballer who played 376 league and cup matches for Nottingham Forest, Walsall, and Blackpool.[1]
Serella now lives and works in Lytham St Annes.[2]
He was one of the two players assaulted by Newcastle fans during the 1974 sixth round FA Cup tie on 9 March 1974, whilst playing in central defence alongside Bob Chapman.[3] Newcastle United fans invaded the pitch and although the match was completed the FA ordered that the game was scrubbed from the record books and replayed at Goodison Park.[4] [5]
In May 2007 Serella stood for election in the Kilnhouse Ward of the Fylde Borough Council local council elections.[6]
In February 2017, Serella revealed to BBC Radio 2 that he was living with a form of pre-dementia caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy.[7] The disease is associated with repeated blows to the head and is well known for affecting boxers and American football players. Serella was discussing with Vanessa Feltz the results of a study that showed soccer players, particularly central defenders called upon to head heavy footballs frequently, to be at risk from the disease.