Alan Davies (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Alan Davies was an English
-born Welsh
international footballer whose regular position was on the right wing, although he could also play on the left. Davies began his football career with Manchester United
, before spending time with Newcastle United
, Charlton Athletic
, Carlisle United
, Swansea City
(two spells) and Bradford City
. Davies committed suicide in February 1992.
to Welsh parents, Davies began his football career at Manchester United
, signing for the club on associate schoolboy forms in November 1976. He signed as an apprentice two years later before turning professional at the age of 17 in December 1978. After progressing through the club's youth and reserve teams, Davies was selected for the first team for the first time on 6 January 1982, being named as a substitute for a First Division
match at home to Everton
. However, he did not make the field that day, and had to wait another four months for his debut.
On 1 May 1982, Davies made his debut for United in a home game against Southampton
. Although he was heavily involved in the club's pre-season programme in 1982, including a short tour of Iceland, Davies returned to relative obscurity for the majority of the 1982–83 season, toiling away for the reserves in the Central League. However, towards the end of the season, Steve Coppell
was forced into retirement by a knee injury he had picked up two years earlier, suddenly making Davies the club's first choice right winger. He played in five of United's final six games of the season, including both matches in the 1983 FA Cup Final
against Brighton & Hove Albion
.
Unfortunately for Davies, he then suffered a broken ankle and torn ligaments playing for the reserves in a pre-season friendly against Stamford. A six-month absence followed, and he struggled to get back into the first team. There was a glimmer of hope for Davies' career when he scored in the first leg of the Cup Winners' Cup semi-final against Juventus
, after coming on as a substitute for John Gidman
, but he only made three more appearances for the Manchester United first team after that. He remained on the club's books until the end of the 1984–85 season, making his final United appearance on 5 May 1984. He was sold to Newcastle United
for £
65,000 in July 1985.
Davies made 21 league appearances for Newcastle in his two seasons there, although he also had loan spells with Charlton Athletic and Carlisle United. He then transferred to Swansea City
for the 1987/88 season.
Davies found much more success at Swansea, playing in 84 League matches in two seasons there, and scoring eight goals. He then transferred to Bradford City
for a season in June 1989. After 26 League appearances and one goal for the Bantams, Davies returned to Swansea City, where he spent almost two more seasons, scoring a further four goals in 43 league appearances.
By 1992 Davies' career was in decline, and that year he committed suicide.
. He made six appearances for the Welsh Under-21 side
prior to his breakthrough into the Manchester United first team. Just five days after he played in the 1983 FA Cup Final replay, Davies made his first appearance for the Welsh national team, being selected on the left wing for a match against Northern Ireland
in Belfast
on 31 May 1983. Then, two weeks later, he played on the left wing in a 1–1 draw at home to Brazil
. However, as Davies' club appearances became fewer and further between, so too did his international appearances become more sporadic. In total, Davies won 13 caps for Wales over the span of a seven-year international career, culminating with a 1–0 defeat away to the Republic of Ireland
on 28 March 1990.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international footballer whose regular position was on the right wing, although he could also play on the left. Davies began his football career with Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, before spending time with Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
(two spells) and Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
. Davies committed suicide in February 1992.
Club career
Born in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to Welsh parents, Davies began his football career at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, signing for the club on associate schoolboy forms in November 1976. He signed as an apprentice two years later before turning professional at the age of 17 in December 1978. After progressing through the club's youth and reserve teams, Davies was selected for the first team for the first time on 6 January 1982, being named as a substitute for a First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
match at home to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. However, he did not make the field that day, and had to wait another four months for his debut.
On 1 May 1982, Davies made his debut for United in a home game against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. Although he was heavily involved in the club's pre-season programme in 1982, including a short tour of Iceland, Davies returned to relative obscurity for the majority of the 1982–83 season, toiling away for the reserves in the Central League. However, towards the end of the season, Steve Coppell
Steve Coppell
Stephen James "Steve" Coppell is an English former footballer and manager, currently without a club.As a player, he was a highly regarded right winger known for his speed and work rate. He won domestic honours with Manchester United and represented England at the World Cup...
was forced into retirement by a knee injury he had picked up two years earlier, suddenly making Davies the club's first choice right winger. He played in five of United's final six games of the season, including both matches in the 1983 FA Cup Final
1983 FA Cup Final
The 1983 FA Cup Final was contested by Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Wembley Stadium.Manchester United were the favourites, as Brighton had been relegated from the First Division that season...
against Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
.
Unfortunately for Davies, he then suffered a broken ankle and torn ligaments playing for the reserves in a pre-season friendly against Stamford. A six-month absence followed, and he struggled to get back into the first team. There was a glimmer of hope for Davies' career when he scored in the first leg of the Cup Winners' Cup semi-final against Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
, after coming on as a substitute for John Gidman
John Gidman
John Gidman was an English football player. His favoured position was right back.Gidman played for the Liverpool youth team without ever playing for their first team, before he joined Aston Villa in 1971. He was a member of the 1977 League Cup winning side, before being signed by Everton in 1979...
, but he only made three more appearances for the Manchester United first team after that. He remained on the club's books until the end of the 1984–85 season, making his final United appearance on 5 May 1984. He was sold to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
65,000 in July 1985.
Davies made 21 league appearances for Newcastle in his two seasons there, although he also had loan spells with Charlton Athletic and Carlisle United. He then transferred to Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
for the 1987/88 season.
Davies found much more success at Swansea, playing in 84 League matches in two seasons there, and scoring eight goals. He then transferred to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
for a season in June 1989. After 26 League appearances and one goal for the Bantams, Davies returned to Swansea City, where he spent almost two more seasons, scoring a further four goals in 43 league appearances.
By 1992 Davies' career was in decline, and that year he committed suicide.
International career
Although he was born in England, Davies was born to Welsh parents and was therefore eligible to play for the Welsh national teamWales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
. He made six appearances for the Welsh Under-21 side
Wales national under-21 football team
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
prior to his breakthrough into the Manchester United first team. Just five days after he played in the 1983 FA Cup Final replay, Davies made his first appearance for the Welsh national team, being selected on the left wing for a match against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
on 31 May 1983. Then, two weeks later, he played on the left wing in a 1–1 draw at home to Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
. However, as Davies' club appearances became fewer and further between, so too did his international appearances become more sporadic. In total, Davies won 13 caps for Wales over the span of a seven-year international career, culminating with a 1–0 defeat away to the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
on 28 March 1990.