William Davies (footballer, born 1882)

He was signed by Wrexham, then playing in The Combination, in 1902. Davies was described as a "short, dogged player, full of dash and determination", who had a reputation for charging the goalkeeper; in one Welsh Cup match, he bundled the goalkeeper into the net five times.[1]

In his first season with Wrexham, he helped the club reach the final of the Welsh Cup, where they defeated Aberaman 8–0, with Davies being one of four players who scored twice.[4] Two years later, Wrexham again won the cup, with Davies once more being on the score-sheet in a 3–0 victory over Aberdare Athletic.[5]

Shortly before the 1903 Welsh Cup final, Davies was called up to represent Wales against Ireland at Solitude Ground, Belfast in the last Wales match in the 1903 British Home Championship – the match ended in a 2–0 victory for the Irish.[6] His second match for Wales came two years later, in a 2–2 draw with the Irish.[7]

In the summer of 1905, he was signed by Blackburn Rovers of the Football League First Division for a fee of £150. Davies had been keen to join Liverpool who were anxious to acquire his services, but his former Wrexham teammate, Bob Evans, who had joined Blackburn two years previously, persuaded him to join Rovers.[1]

He made his debut for Blackburn in a reserves match in typical fashion, scoring a hat-trick; a local report said "Tinker got three goals and in two of them put the goalkeeper in as well".[1]

In the 1906 edition of "Association Football and the Men Who Made It", Davies was described as "a snapper up of trifles (who) snatched at goals with greedy delight".[1]

In November 1908, he scored four goals in two consecutive matches; the first occasion came at Goodison Park on 21 November when Everton were 4–1 up with twenty minutes left to play, when Davies' "whirlwind" scoring brought the scores level by full-time.[1][8] He was Blackburn's top scorer in three of the eight seasons he spent at Ewood Park: 1907–08 (9 goals),[9] 1908–09 (21 goals)[10] and 1910–11 (16 goals).[11]

Davies was recalled to the Welsh team for the 1908 British Home Championship; in the match against England on 16 March. Davies scored his first international goal, a consolation goal scored in the 90th minute of a 7–1 defeat. In this match, the Wales goalkeeper, Leigh Roose, left the field after being injured in the 15th minute following a shoulder-charge by Vivian Woodward; Charlie Morris took over in goal until half-time, when Dai Davies came on as a substitute 'keeper.[12][13]

The following season, Davies scored twice in a 3–2 victory over Scotland; this was his first win for Wales.[14]

Davies was seriously injured midway through the 1909–10 season causing him to miss the latter half of the season including the international matches,[1] but he returned the following season and continued to be a regular member of the Blackburn team. During the 1911–12 season, he was now reaching the end of his career but still made eleven appearances, scoring twice,[15] to help Blackburn win the Football League title for the first time.