Andrew Davidson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Crawford Davidson (born 24 February 1878) was a Scottish footballer who played at half-back
for various clubs in the 1900s, spending most of his career with Middlesbrough
.
in East Ayrshire
and started his professional football career with Ayr United
before moving to England to join Middlesbrough
in May 1900.
At Middlesbrough, he soon became a permanent fixture at left-half, making 32 league appearances in the 1900–01 season as Middlesbrough finished sixth in the Second Division
table. The following season, he was ever-present as Middlesbrough finished as runners-up, thus gaining promotion to the First Division
.
Davidson rarely missed a match over the next two years, but in 1904–05 he missed most of the season through injury, with Joe Cassidy dropping back to replace him. He was back to full fitness for the following season as Middlesbrough narrowly avoided relegation.
In the summer of 1906, he moved to fellow First Division side, Bury
, having made over 200 appearances for Middlesbrough in the League and FA Cup
.
Davidson spent two seasons with Bury, before moving on to join Grimsby Town
in May 1908. At Grimsby, he gained a reputation as a quick centre-half and was appointed the team captain. In July 1909, he moved to Southampton
of the Southern League
, where he failed to reproduce the form he had shown at Blundell Park
and, after only five appearances, he returned to Grimsby, where he played for the rest of the 1909–10 season before dropping down to non-league football
.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for various clubs in the 1900s, spending most of his career with Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
Football career
Davidson was born in AuchinleckAuchinleck
Auchinleck ; is a village five miles south-east of Mauchline, and a couple of miles north-west of Cumnock in East Ayrshire, Scotland.Near the village is Auchinleck House, past home of the lawyer, diarist and biographer James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck.Auchinleck has much been associated...
in East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
and started his professional football career with Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
before moving to England to join Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in May 1900.
At Middlesbrough, he soon became a permanent fixture at left-half, making 32 league appearances in the 1900–01 season as Middlesbrough finished sixth in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
table. The following season, he was ever-present as Middlesbrough finished as runners-up, thus gaining promotion to the 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....
.
Davidson rarely missed a match over the next two years, but in 1904–05 he missed most of the season through injury, with Joe Cassidy dropping back to replace him. He was back to full fitness for the following season as Middlesbrough narrowly avoided relegation.
In the summer of 1906, he moved to fellow First Division side, Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
, having made over 200 appearances for Middlesbrough in the League and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
.
Davidson spent two seasons with Bury, before moving on to join Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in May 1908. At Grimsby, he gained a reputation as a quick centre-half and was appointed the team captain. In July 1909, he moved to 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...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, where he failed to reproduce the form he had shown at Blundell Park
Blundell Park
Blundell Park is a football ground in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England and home to Grimsby Town Football Club. The stadium was built in 1898, but only one of the original stands remain. The current capacity of the ground is 9546, though with the introduction of all seating in the late...
and, after only five appearances, he returned to Grimsby, where he played for the rest of the 1909–10 season before dropping down to non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
.
Honours
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
runners-up: 1901–02