The Thistle Archive

David began his career as a youth at Ayr United, but having not featured in the first team he joined Stranraer on loan in July 2009, then made the move permanent in June 2010. He stated that his decision to make the initial loan move was to achieve his ambition of first team football which he felt he wouldn't get at Ayr. This he certainly did. He played his part in the club's successful promotion campaign in 2012; although they lost against Albion Rovers in the play-offs, Stranraer were promoted to the Scottish Second Division due to the demise of Rangers. During the 2014–15 season, Scottish Championship side Hibernian were reported to be interested in obtaining his signature, although this move did not transpire at that particular time.

After 6 years and over 200 games at Stranraer, he signed with Dundee for the 2015-16 season, making his debut on 20 March 2016, in the Dundee derby against Dundee United, coming on as a substitute following a red card for Scott Bain. He left Dundee at the end of the 2016–17 season. He then agreed a contract with Falkirk in the summer of 2017 and played 12 League games for them over the course of the next two seasons. It was then on to Clyde for 2019-20 where he topped their playing chart on 39 appearances. He eventually did make that move to Premiership Hibernian, in August 2021 as back-up, but left in June 2022 without having played a first-team game.

Ian McCall brought the 32-year-old to Firhill to fit the masterplan of having mutiple players good enough to start in every position. With #1 Jamie Sneddon recovering from an ear-related issue, David seized his opportunity the very day after he signed, determinedly keeping a clean-sheet on a tough and rainy night in Kelty. Self described as a bit of an "angry moaner" whilst on duty!

For two seasons, goalkeeping duties at Firhill were pretty much shared between David Mitchell and Jamie Sneddon, both enjoying good spells, but neither showing enough consistency to permanently command the position. During those years, Mitchell made 50 competitive appearances and kept 17 clean-sheets, a very decent 33% ratio. Some good form towards the end of 2023-24 won him a contract extension until the summer of 2025.