Bastian, David

David was a typical no-nonsense defender of the early 2000s who has had an impressive non-league career.

He made his first senior appearances for Barking in the 1998-9 season, before moving on to Horsham where he spent two seasons.

He joined Leyton Pennant at the start of the 2001-2 season, and was a mainstay in a team which finished sixth in the Isthmian League Division Two, having just as much fun off the pitch as they did on it.

A change in living location saw Bastian move out to Wivenhoe for the 2002-3 season, and part of 2003-4, before rejoining Pennant, now Waltham Forest with a month to go at the end of 2004. His comeback game was against Arlesey Town, and he scored one of his few goals for the club a week later, an absolute screamer, at home to eventual champions Yeading United.

Bastian Made 33 appearances the following campaign for Forest, and 28 the season after. He was a key player in blending experience with youth, which saw Forest win the Essex Senior Cup in 2006.

Following Hakan Hayrettin’s departure, Bastian was one of a number of players to move to Enfield Town, where he spent the next five seasons – sandwiching a short spell at Maldon Town. He was voted Town’s Player of the Season in the 2008-9 campaign, and was always a fans’ favourite, though his rather robust tackling style did worry the fans at time.

Two full season with Ware were next, show Dave ‘still had it’, and he was still playing senior football in 2014, with a spell at Hertford Town.

While his senior career may have ended, Bastian is still as fit as ever, playing Veterans Football on both Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturdays, he has turned out for Little Waltham, playing alongside former Stow players Simon Tickner and Chris Elad, as well as legendary non-league names like Ricci Crace and Stafford Browne.

David also completed the 2019 London Marathon, dress as an ostrich.

All Leyton Pennant and Waltham Forest stats compiled by, and used with the permission of Steve Howe. If you’ve got any of the missing statistics for this player, please contact us.