Taffy Davies
Encyclopedia
William "Taffy" Davies was a Welsh professional footballer, who played as a winger or inside forward
. He played his entire professional football career for English club Watford
, and made an appearance for his country during a wartime
international match against England.
, Glamorgan
, Davies played local football at amateur Welsh club New Tredegar, before joining Watford
as an amateur in April 1930. He turned professional three months later, and stayed at Vicarage Road
for the entirety of his 21 season (20 year) professional career. During that time Davies played 283 Football League games, 128 wartime
matches and 29 FA Cup
fixtures. He also played 13 games in the Football League Third Division South Cup
, which Watford won in 1937. He played for the Wales national football team
at Ninian Park
on 6 May 1944, where they were defeated 2–0 by England
. However, wartime internationals are not recognised by FIFA
or the Football Association of Wales
as official internationals, and therefore Davies did not receive a cap
.
Davies was a forceful and skilful winger who not only centred the ball well but was also an excellent schemer. One match report commented: "He puts plenty of life and thought into his game ... (but has) a tendency to hold his ground and pass back instead of taking a direct route to goal."
A cartilage operation in the 1937–38 season put him out of action until April 1938 and the club never recovered from his loss, missing out on promotion. Davies continued playing for Watford after the Second World War, and was the club's top scorer in the 1947–48 season, with 11 goals in all competitions.
, Hertfordshire
at the age of 85.
Winner: 1937
Runner up: 1935
Watford Football Club top scorer: 1947–48
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
. He played his entire professional football career for English club Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, and made an appearance for his country during a wartime
Association football during World War II
When World War II was declared in 1939, it had a negative effect on association football; competitions were suspended and players signed up to fight, resulting in the deaths of many players.-League football:-Austria:...
international match against England.
Playing career
Born in Troed-y-rhiwTroed-y-rhiw
Troed-y-rhiw is a village in the Welsh county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, South Wales.The village is served by Troed-y-rhiw railway station.-Community Archives Wales:...
, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, Davies played local football at amateur Welsh club New Tredegar, before joining Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
as an amateur in April 1930. He turned professional three months later, and stayed at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
for the entirety of his 21 season (20 year) professional career. During that time Davies played 283 Football League games, 128 wartime
Wartime League
The Wartime League was a football league competition held in England during World War II, which replaced the suspended Football League. The exclusion of the FA Cup in these years saw the creation of the Football League War Cup.-History:...
matches and 29 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...
fixtures. He also played 13 games in the Football League Third Division South Cup
Football League Third Division South Cup
The Football League Third Division South Cup was a football knockout competition open to teams competing in Football League Third Division South. The competition was first held in 1933–34 and ran until the 1938–39 season.-Format:...
, which Watford won in 1937. He played for the Wales national football team
Wales 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...
at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
on 6 May 1944, where they were defeated 2–0 by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. However, wartime internationals are not recognised by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
or the Football Association of Wales
Football Association of Wales
The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of association football in Wales. It is a member of FIFA, UEFA and the IFAB.Established in 1876 , it is the third-oldest national association in the world, and is one of the four associations The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the...
as official internationals, and therefore Davies did not receive a cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
.
Davies was a forceful and skilful winger who not only centred the ball well but was also an excellent schemer. One match report commented: "He puts plenty of life and thought into his game ... (but has) a tendency to hold his ground and pass back instead of taking a direct route to goal."
A cartilage operation in the 1937–38 season put him out of action until April 1938 and the club never recovered from his loss, missing out on promotion. Davies continued playing for Watford after the Second World War, and was the club's top scorer in the 1947–48 season, with 11 goals in all competitions.
Later career
Davies retired at the end of the 1949–50 season, just before his 40th birthday. He then became the licensee of the Red Lion pub, which is situated opposite the entrance to Vicarage Road stadium. He died in WatfordWatford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
at the age of 85.
Honours
Football League Third Division South CupFootball League Third Division South Cup
The Football League Third Division South Cup was a football knockout competition open to teams competing in Football League Third Division South. The competition was first held in 1933–34 and ran until the 1938–39 season.-Format:...
Winner: 1937
Runner up: 1935
Watford Football Club top scorer: 1947–48