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Mike Davies (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael John "Mike" Davies (born 19 January 1966) is an English
former professional footballer. He spent the entirety of his eleven-year playing career with Blackpool
, for whom he became a coach
after his retirement from playing in 1995.
, Lancashire
, and nicknamed Ginge, Davies was a successful product of Blackpool's youth department, and made over 300 appearances for the Seasiders. He made his debut in May 1984 in a home win over Halifax Town.
Initially a right winger
, he won a regular place in the team, replacing Ian Britton and forming a partnership with John Deary
. Under Sam Ellis
' guidance, Davies continued to play on the wide right for the next few seasons, scoring important goals that helped the team to promotion.
On 29 March 1986, Davies, a 27th-minute substitute, scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Rotherham United
at Bloomfield Road
. The goal was greeted by "roars of acclaim" that were "a fickle contrast to the boos that greeted Davies' arrival off the subs' bench."
During the 1987–88
season, Davies was moved to the full back position, prompted by the arrival of Tony Cunningham
, a move he adapted well to – so much so that the Blackpool supporters voted him the club's Player of the Year.
"A fast, tricky player with tremendous commitment, the flame-haired terrier often found himself in trouble with over-zealous referees, who didn't always appreciate his approach," wrote Roy Calley
in his 1992 book, Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. "One feels that if every man to have worn a Blackpool shirt over the years had showed as much commitment to the cause as Mike Davies, then the Seasiders would never have fallen from grace."
in April 2006. Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Davies is in the 1980s.
, becoming a coach with Blackpool.
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...
former professional footballer. He spent the entirety of his eleven-year playing career with Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, for whom he became a coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
after his retirement from playing in 1995.
Playing career
Born in StretfordStretford
Stretford is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Lying on flat ground between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal, it is to the southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Salford and northeast of Altrincham...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and nicknamed Ginge, Davies was a successful product of Blackpool's youth department, and made over 300 appearances for the Seasiders. He made his debut in May 1984 in a home win over Halifax Town.
Initially a right winger
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
, he won a regular place in the team, replacing Ian Britton and forming a partnership with John Deary
John Deary
John Steele Deary is an English former professional football player. He played as a midfielder....
. Under Sam Ellis
Sam Ellis
Samuel "Sam" Ellis is an English football coach and former player. He left his post as assistant manager of on December 30, 2010.-Career:...
' guidance, Davies continued to play on the wide right for the next few seasons, scoring important goals that helped the team to promotion.
On 29 March 1986, Davies, a 27th-minute substitute, scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
. The goal was greeted by "roars of acclaim" that were "a fickle contrast to the boos that greeted Davies' arrival off the subs' bench."
During the 1987–88
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
season, Davies was moved to the full back position, prompted by the arrival of Tony Cunningham
Tony Cunningham (footballer)
Anthony Eugene "Tony" Cunningham is a Jamaican former professional footballer.Cunningham, a striker, began his professional career with Lincoln City in 1979...
, a move he adapted well to – so much so that the Blackpool supporters voted him the club's Player of the Year.
"A fast, tricky player with tremendous commitment, the flame-haired terrier often found himself in trouble with over-zealous referees, who didn't always appreciate his approach," wrote Roy Calley
Roy Calley
Roy Calley is an English journalist. He works for the BBC in London, but was brought up in Blackpool, Lancashire.He joined the BBC in 1990 at Radio Lancashire, working as a sports journalist...
in his 1992 book, Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. "One feels that if every man to have worn a Blackpool shirt over the years had showed as much commitment to the cause as Mike Davies, then the Seasiders would never have fallen from grace."
Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame
Davies was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy ArmfieldJimmy Armfield
James Christopher "Jimmy" Armfield, CBE, DL is an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back...
in April 2006. Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Davies is in the 1980s.
Post-retirement
After he retired from playing, Davies remained on the Fylde coastThe Fylde
The Fylde ; Scandinavian: "field") is a coastal plain in western Lancashire, England. It is roughly a 13-mile square-shaped peninsula, bounded by Morecambe Bay to the north, the Ribble estuary to the south, the Irish Sea to the west, and the Bowland hills to the east...
, becoming a coach with Blackpool.
Honours
Blackpool- Division FourFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
play-off winner: 1991–92 - Lancashire Cup winner: 1993–941993-94 in English footballThe 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
, 1994–951994-95 in English football-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...