Alan Davies (footballer)

Alan Davies

Personal information
Full name	Alan Davies
Date of birth	5 December 1961(1961-12-05)
Place of birth	Manchester, England
Date of death	4 February 1992(1992-02-04) (aged 30)
Place of death	Gower, Wales
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position	Winger
Youth career
1976–1978	Manchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1978–1985	Manchester United	7	(0)
1985–1987	Newcastle United	21	(1)
1986	→ Charlton Athletic (loan)	1	(0)
1986	→ Carlisle United (loan)	4	(1)
1987–1989	Swansea City	84	(8)
1989–1990	Bradford City	26	(1)
1990–1992	Swansea City	43	(4)
–	Total	186	(15 )
National team
	Wales U21	6	(0)
1983–1990	Wales	13	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Alan Davies (5 December 1961 – 4 February 1992) 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.

Career

Club career

Born in Manchester 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, scoring a further four goals in 43 league appearances,before committing committed suicide in February 1992.A testimonial match in his memory was contested between Swansea City and Manchester United at the Vetch Field in August that year.

International career

Although he was born in England, Davies was born to Welsh parents and was therefore eligible to play for the Welsh national team. 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.

Honours

• FA Cup (1): 1982–83

External links

• Profile at StretfordEnd.co.uk
• Profile at MUFCInfo.com