Eric Davis (footballer)
Eric William Charles Davis (26 February 1932 – 24 July 2007) was an English footballer who played as a centre forward. He made 136 appearances in the Football League for Plymouth Argyle, Scunthorpe United, Chester and Oldham Athletic, scoring 61 goals.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Eric William Charles Davis | ||
Date of birth | 26 February 1932 | ||
Place of birth | Stonehouse, Plymouth, England | ||
Date of death | July 2007 (aged 75) | ||
Playing position(s) | Centre forward | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
Rhyl | |||
Tavistock Town | |||
1952–1957 | Plymouth Argyle | 63 | (29) |
1957–1959 | Scunthorpe United | 40 | (20) |
1959–1960 | Chester | 31 | (11) |
1960 | Oldham Athletic | 2 | (1) |
Falmouth Town | |||
Teams managed | |||
Falmouth Town (player-manager) | |||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Career
Born in Stonehouse, Plymouth, he began his career playing Rhyl while on national service.[1] During this time he also had a trial at Chester, who he would join later in his career.[1] Davis played for Tavistock Town when he returned to Devon and joined Plymouth Argyle in 1952.[1][2] Having scored on his debut in March 1953, he was a back-up player to Maurice Tadman for two seasons and then played more regularly over the next three.[1][2] When the club signed Wilf Carter in 1957, Davis was transferred to Scunthorpe United, having scored 29 goals in 63 league games.[1]
During his time with Scunthorpe, Davis helped the club win the Third Division North in 1958 and scored 20 goals in 40 league appearances.[1][3] He moved to Chester in 1959 and scored 11 goals in 31 league games for them.[3] He had a brief stint with Oldham Athletic in 1960, scoring once in two league games, before retiring.[2][3] Davis died in July 2007 at the age of 75.[4]
Davis later became player-manager of Falmouth Town, overseeing their FA Cup run in 1962–63 which saw them reach the first round for the first time.[5]
References
- "Eric Davis". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- Knight, Brian (1989). Plymouth Argyle: A Complete Record 1903–1989. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 128. ISBN 0-907969-40-2.
- "Eric Davis". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- "Former Argyle forward Davis dies". BBC Sport. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- Cornwall's greatest ever side? The Packet, 1 November 2012