Simon Davies (footballer, born 1979)

Born in Haverfordwest, Davies grew up in nearby Solva and played locally as a junior for Solva AFC,[2] before becoming a trainee at Norwich City and then moving to Peterborough United at the age of 15.[3] After graduating from the side's academy system, he quickly established himself as a first team player with the club, amassing over 50 first team appearances before he turned 20.

At the end of the 98/99 season he was named in the Division Three team of year, and as Peterborough's player of the year.[4]

After a trial with Manchester United in July 1999, Davies' performances for Peterborough encouraged Tottenham Hotspur manager George Graham to spend £700,000 to take him, along with fellow winger Matthew Etherington, to White Hart Lane on 31 December 1999.

Davies made his Spurs debut on 9 April 2000 during a 2–0 defeat against Liverpool.[5]

Davies spent the early months of the 2000–01 season as a substitute. However, after coming on for the injured Øyvind Leonhardsen early in the FA Cup fifth round tie against Stockport County on 17 February 2001, Davies scored twice.[6] This game marked the beginning of his transformation into a first-team regular for the club.

In the five years that Davies played for Tottenham, during which time he suffered a number of injuries, he made 154 appearances and scored 24 goals in all competitions.

On 26 May 2005, he completed a transfer to Everton for a fee which could have reached £4m depending on appearances. The move meant that Davies received his first chance to play in Europe's premier football competition, the UEFA Champions League. On the whole, Davies had a poor first season in Everton's disappointing 2005–06 campaign. He did, however, score a winning goal at Birmingham City[7] to give Everton their first win in over two months, a result which prompted a change in fortunes for the Merseysiders.

In January 2007, he left Everton for Fulham, for an undisclosed fee. He was brought in as the long-term replacement for Steed Malbranque on the right side of midfield.[8] On 30 January 2007, he played his first Premier League match for Fulham against Sheffield United.

Davies taking a free kick for Fulham

Since joining Fulham from Everton, he became a mainstay on the right hand side of midfield contributing with some spectacular goals (free kick against Sunderland and full volley against Reading) and great crosses.[9] His pace, along with his high work rate made him a crowd favourite and earned him the respect of then-manager Lawrie Sanchez. Davies was voted Fulham's player of the season in 2007–08.[10][11]

Davies scored a dramatic equaliser in the second leg of Fulham's UEFA Europa League semi-final against Hamburg on 29 April 2010; Fulham went on to win the game and the tie 2–1.[12] He followed that up with a volleyed goal in the first half of the final against Atlético Madrid in Hamburg that made the score 1–1, although Fulham went on to lose 2–1 in extra time.[13]

Davies signed a new deal with Fulham on 16 August 2010 that saw him playing for the club until 2013.[14] However, Davies later career at Fulham faded after suffering injuries. This first occurred when he suffered a knee injury, which lead Davies sidelined for five months following surgery.[15] Four months later, on 10 December 2011, Davies made his first start of the 2011/12 season, in a 2–0 loss against Swansea City.[16] Davies went on to make six appearances before suffering a hip injury.[17] Davies was told by Manager Martin Jol will only be a bit-part player to make way for youngsters ahead of the 2012–13 season.[18]

Despite being included in the club's Premier League squad,[19] Davies played his first match in the club's reserve match in a 2–2 against Wycombe Wanderers reserve team.[20] Davies was one of 12 players released by Fulham at the end of the 2012–13 Premier League season.[21]

In July 2013, he returned to his boyhood club, Solva AFC, and played 40 minutes in a game against St Ishmael's at Maes-y-Mor.[2][22] He formally signed for the amateur Pembrokeshire League Division Two club in September 2014, paying £3 per game 'subs' for the privilege.[23]

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