Ben Davies (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Benjamin James Davies is an English footballer who currently plays as a midfielder
for Derby County
.
. He had spells with Kidderminster Harriers
and Chester City
, where he won a Nationwide Conference championship medal in 2004. During his time at the Deva, he was made club captain.
two days before turning 25, making his club debut in the 2006–07
opener against Mansfield Town
, which finished 2–2. He scored in Shrewsbury's next two matches, going on to net a total of 12 times over the course of the season.
After Davies helped Shrewsbury to seventh position in the league, he suffered an injury in the play-off semi-final against MK Dons, which meant that he missed the play-off final, and was expected miss to the first half of the 2007–08
season.
Davies recovered faster than expected from his Achilles Tendon injury, returning for the first team in late November. He played an instrumental role in Shrewsbury's return to winning ways, scoring a stunning free kick and an excellent driven goal in a 4–0 win against Dagenham and Redbridge
and also scoring away against Accrington Stanley
. Following Stewart Drummond's departure in the January 2008 transfer window, Davies was installed as Shrewsbury's club captain. Having missed the 2007 final, Davies played the 2009 League Two play-off final
, which Shrewsbury lost. One of several key players out of contract at the end of the season, Shrewsbury did offer Davies a contract extension, however, Notts County offered him a deal which he felt gave him a greater chance at achieving his ambition to play at a higher level. As a result Davies left Shrewsbury to join Notts.
, with Derby boss Nigel Clough
leaving a 2-1 defeat at Coventry City
5 minutes early left to watch the player. Davies remained at County, however, and in his first season at League One
level hit 5 goals in 22 games, including two strikes in a 3-2 victory at Peterborough United
, as well as numerous assist. The form saw Derby retain their interest into the January 2011 transfer window, lodging several bids which were rejected Davies desire to have a shot at Championship level
football saw him hand in a transfer request, despite proclaiming "I absolutely love it here, I'm the happiest I have ever been in my career" Finally, a bid in the region of £350k, was accepted and the player completed the move ahead of the home match against Nottingham Forest
, signing a two-and-a-half year deal until July 2013.
Nottingham Forest
. Joining the club in a run of form which had seen just one win from their previous nine fixtures, Davies had to wait until his seventh appearance before tasting a victory at his new club; a 1-0 victory at relegation rivals Sheffield United
. As the club itself struggled, so did Davies with the step up and, after starting in a 3-1 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers
, Davies was dropped to the bench for the following two games against Barnsley
and Middlesbrough
. Upon coming on as a substitute against Middlesbrough, Davies gave the ball away in the 88th minute to allow Merouane Zemmama
to grab a 88th minute winner in a 2-1 defeat. He subsequently failed to make the 18 man squad for Derby's next match, a 2-1 win over second placed Swansea City, with Davies later admitting he deserved to be dropped; "I'm not one to hide and my performances weren't good enough – I know that. I hold my hands up. I couldn't go knocking the manager's door down saying I deserved to be in the team because, based on my performances, I didn't." Davies was recalled to the starting line-up for a 2-2 draw with Coventry City
, in which his free kick set up Steve Davies
for Derby's first, before hitting the winner in the next game, a 2-1 victory over Leeds United, with an "unstoppable" 20-yard volley. Despite this, Davies did not feature in the next four games before returning in the final game of the season, a 2-1 defeat at Reading
.
After playing an active role in Derby's pre-season fixtures, scoring in wins over local rivals Burton Albion
and Aston Villa
, Davies found himself in the first team for the start of the 2011-12 season, playing every minute as Derby won their opening four fixtures for the first time in 106-years to find themselves in 2nd place in the early season table. The fourth victory, 3-0 over Doncaster Rovers
, saw Davies open his account for the season as well as provide assists for the other two goals. Davies was rewarded with a place in the Championship Team of the Week, something he repeated with his performance in a 3-0 win over Millwall
, a game in which he created two of Derby's three goals.
Correct as of 29 November 2011
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
Early career
A midfielder, Davies began his career with WalsallWalsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
. He had spells with Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
and Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, where he won a Nationwide Conference championship medal in 2004. During his time at the Deva, he was made club captain.
Shrewsbury Town
Davies joined Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
two days before turning 25, making his club debut in the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
opener against Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, which finished 2–2. He scored in Shrewsbury's next two matches, going on to net a total of 12 times over the course of the season.
After Davies helped Shrewsbury to seventh position in the league, he suffered an injury in the play-off semi-final against MK Dons, which meant that he missed the play-off final, and was expected miss to the first half of the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season.
Davies recovered faster than expected from his Achilles Tendon injury, returning for the first team in late November. He played an instrumental role in Shrewsbury's return to winning ways, scoring a stunning free kick and an excellent driven goal in a 4–0 win against Dagenham and Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
and also scoring away against Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
. Following Stewart Drummond's departure in the January 2008 transfer window, Davies was installed as Shrewsbury's club captain. Having missed the 2007 final, Davies played the 2009 League Two play-off final
2009 Football League Two play-off Final
The 2009 Football League Two play-off final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 23 May 2009, at the end of the 2008–09 season. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from Football League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, and featured...
, which Shrewsbury lost. One of several key players out of contract at the end of the season, Shrewsbury did offer Davies a contract extension, however, Notts County offered him a deal which he felt gave him a greater chance at achieving his ambition to play at a higher level. As a result Davies left Shrewsbury to join Notts.
Notts County
Ben Davies had a successful first season at Notts County, playing an integral part in them winning the league. He became the highest scoring midfielder in a single season in County's history as he scored 16 goals, alongside 20 assists, and won several awards, including Supporters player of the year, club player of the year and goal of the season, as well as being named in thr PFA Team of the year. His form was such that in August 2010 he was subject to overtures from Championship side Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, with Derby boss Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
leaving a 2-1 defeat at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
5 minutes early left to watch the player. Davies remained at County, however, and in his first season at League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
level hit 5 goals in 22 games, including two strikes in a 3-2 victory at Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, as well as numerous assist. The form saw Derby retain their interest into the January 2011 transfer window, lodging several bids which were rejected Davies desire to have a shot at Championship level
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
football saw him hand in a transfer request, despite proclaiming "I absolutely love it here, I'm the happiest I have ever been in my career" Finally, a bid in the region of £350k, was accepted and the player completed the move ahead of the home match against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, signing a two-and-a-half year deal until July 2013.
Derby County
Davies made his full Derby debut in a 1-0 home defeat to fierce rivalsEast Midlands derby
This article is only about games featuring Nottingham Forest and Derby County. For games with either of those clubs against Leicester City, see Leicester City F.C. and Nottingham Forest F.C. rivalry or Derby County F.C. and Leicester City F.C. rivalry....
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. Joining the club in a run of form which had seen just one win from their previous nine fixtures, Davies had to wait until his seventh appearance before tasting a victory at his new club; a 1-0 victory at relegation rivals Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. As the club itself struggled, so did Davies with the step up and, after starting in a 3-1 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, Davies was dropped to the bench for the following two games against Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
and 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...
. Upon coming on as a substitute against Middlesbrough, Davies gave the ball away in the 88th minute to allow Merouane Zemmama
Merouane Zemmama
Merouane Zemmama is a Moroccan football player who currently plays for English Championship club Middlesbrough. Zemmama represented Morocco at the 2004 Summer Olympics and was first capped at full international level in 2008....
to grab a 88th minute winner in a 2-1 defeat. He subsequently failed to make the 18 man squad for Derby's next match, a 2-1 win over second placed Swansea City, with Davies later admitting he deserved to be dropped; "I'm not one to hide and my performances weren't good enough – I know that. I hold my hands up. I couldn't go knocking the manager's door down saying I deserved to be in the team because, based on my performances, I didn't." Davies was recalled to the starting line-up for a 2-2 draw with Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, in which his free kick set up Steve Davies
Steve Davies (footballer)
Steven Gary "Steve" Davies is an English footballer who currently plays as a striker for Derby County.-Tranmere Rovers:...
for Derby's first, before hitting the winner in the next game, a 2-1 victory over Leeds United, with an "unstoppable" 20-yard volley. Despite this, Davies did not feature in the next four games before returning in the final game of the season, a 2-1 defeat at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
.
After playing an active role in Derby's pre-season fixtures, scoring in wins over local rivals Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
and Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, Davies found himself in the first team for the start of the 2011-12 season, playing every minute as Derby won their opening four fixtures for the first time in 106-years to find themselves in 2nd place in the early season table. The fourth victory, 3-0 over Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, saw Davies open his account for the season as well as provide assists for the other two goals. Davies was rewarded with a place in the Championship Team of the Week, something he repeated with his performance in a 3-0 win over Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, a game in which he created two of Derby's three goals.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Domestic Cups | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Goals | Assists | Games | Goals | Assists | Games | Goals | Assists | Games | Goals | Assists | ||
| Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
11-12 | 19 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 8 |
| 10-11 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 1 | |
| Club Total | 32 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 9 | |
| Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
10-11 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 8 | 7 |
| 09-10 | 45 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 16 | 17 | |
| Club Total | 67 | 20 | 21 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 80 | 24 | 24 | |
| Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... |
06-09 | 112 | 30 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 127 | 31 | 25 |
| Club Total | 112 | 30 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 127 | 31 | 28 | |
| Chester City Chester City F.C. Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the... |
02-06 | 153 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 170 | 17 | 0 |
| Club Total | 153 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 170 | 17 | 0 | |
| Kidderminster Harriers Kidderminster Harriers F.C. Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed... |
00-02 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Club Total | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | |
| Walsall Walsall F.C. Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second... |
99-00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Club Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career Totals | 377 | 68 | 57 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 425 | 74 | 64 | |