Thomas Davies (footballer, born 1872)

Thomas Davies (1872 – 1950s) was a Welsh amateur footballer who played at half back for Druids for twenty years around the turn of the twentieth century. He also made four appearances for the Welsh national team.

For other people named Thomas Davies, see Thomas Davies (disambiguation).
Thomas Davies
Personal information
Full name Thomas Davies
Date of birth 1872
Place of birth Cefn Mawr, Wales
Date of death 1950s (aged 77–87)
Position(s) Half-back
Youth career
Brookside Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1890–1910 Druids
International career
1903–1904 Wales 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career

Davies was one of five brothers from Cefn Mawr who played for the local Druids side, then one of the top teams in Wales.[1] He was a stalwart of the Druids side between 1890 and 1910 and later became a member of the club committee. He had a reputation for strength and fitness and is reputed to have never left the field of play as a result of injury; he put his longevity down to "the entire abstention from tobacco and alcoholic drinks".[1]

Despite being only a few inches over 5 feet tall, Davies was described as a "glutton for work"; the England international, C.B. Fry commented that he was "astonished to find a man of such diminutive stature capable of so much effective work".[1]

During his Druids career, Davies played in five Welsh Cup finals, being on the winning side in 1898,[2] 1899[3] and 1904[4] and finishing as runners-up in 1900[5] and 1901.[6]

Davies made his international debut for Wales in a 2–1 defeat by England at Portsmouth's Fratton Park on 2 March 1903[7] and retained his place for the next two matches, a 1–0 defeat by Scotland and a 2–0 defeat by Ireland. His fourth and final international appearance was in a 1–1 draw with Scotland on 12 March 1904.[8]

Career outside football

Davies spent most of his working life at the Ruabon Brick and Terracotta Works.[1]

Family

Three of his brothers also played for Wales: Joe (7 appearances), Lloyd (16 appearances) and Robert (1 appearance).[1]

Honours
Druids
  • Welsh Cup winners: 1898, 1899 and 1904
  • Welsh Cup finalists: 1900 and 1901

References
  1. Davies, Gareth; Garland, Ian (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players. Bridge Books. pp. 44–45. ISBN 1-872424-11-2.
  2. "Welsh Cup Final 1898". Welsh Football Data Archive. 30 April 1898. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  3. "Welsh Cup Final 1899". Welsh Football Data Archive. 15 April 1899. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  4. "Welsh Cup Final 1904". Welsh Football Data Archive. 4 April 1904. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  5. "Welsh Cup Final 1900". Welsh Football Data Archive. 16 April 1900. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  6. "Welsh Cup Final 1901". Welsh Football Data Archive. 8 April 1901. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  7. "England 2 Wales 1". Welsh Football Data Archive. 2 March 1903. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  8. "Scotland 1 Wales 1". Welsh Football Data Archive. 12 March 1904. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
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