He played at club level for Leeds (Under-17s, and A-Team), Keighley, and York, as a prop or second-row.
David Dunkerley played left-prop in York's 8-18 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1978–79 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1978–79 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 28 October 1978, in front of a crowd of 10,429.
David Dunkerley broke his collar bone during mid-November 1975, and returned to play 6-weeks later in the match against Hull F.C.
at The Boulevard, Kingston upon Hull on Thursday 1 January 1976, 3-days later he broke his collar bone again in the match against Barrow at Clarence Street, York on Sunday 4 January 1976, he returned to training during March 1976, but he played no further matches in the during the 1975–76 season.
David Dunkerley's marriage to Shelley E. (née Wilson) was registered during fourth ¼ 1983 in Leeds district.