John Price Davies Explained

John Davies
Fullname:John Price Davies
Birth Date:1862
Birth Place:Ruabon, Wales
Death Place:Wrexham, Wales
Position:Forward / Half back
Years1:1878–1879
Clubs1:Corwen
Years2:1879–1881
Clubs2:Berwyn Rangers
Years3:1881–1884
Clubs3:Druids
Years4:1884–1886
Clubs4:Wrexham Olympic
Years5:1886–1887
Clubs5:Wrexham Cambrian
Years6:1887–1889
Clubs6:Berwyn Rangers
Years7:1889–1890
Clubs7:Wynnstay
Years8:1890–1892
Clubs8:Ruabon
Nationalyears1:1883
Nationalteam1:Wales
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0

John Price Davies (1862 – 31 March 1955) was a Welsh footballer who played as either a forward or half back for various clubs, including Druids and Berwyn Rangers in the 1870s and 1880s. He also made two appearances for Wales in 1883.

Football career

Davies was born in Ruabon, but started his football career at Corwen in 1878. The following year he joined Berwyn Rangers of Llangollen, where he played for two years before moving to Druids in 1881.[1] In 1882, he was a member of the Druids team which won the Welsh Cup with a 5–0 victory over Northwich Victoria (two goals each from Charles Ketley and Edward Bowen).[2]

In 1882–83, Druids had their best run in the FA Cup. After victories over Oswestry Town and Northwich Victoria in the first two rounds, they were drawn against Bolton Wanderers. After two draws, the clubs met for a second replay at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on 29 January 1883; a single goal from Jack Vaughan was sufficient to see the Druids through. They then defeated another Bolton-based club, Eagley, before being defeated 4–1 on 24 February 1883 at Blackburn Olympic, who went on to win the trophy a month later.[3]

His international debut came on 3 February 1883, when he was one of four Druids players selected to play (as a forward) against England at the Kennington Oval, London.[4] The England selectors had chosen an "attacking side" in an attempt to avenge defeats by Wales in the two previous meetings,[5] resulting in a comfortable 5–0 victory for the English, with Clement Mitchell scoring a hat-trick.[6] Davies' second cap came as a half back on 17 March in a 1–1 draw with Ireland.[7] His international appearances were summed up by the Football Association of Wales as "useful but not very ornamental".[1]

In September 1883, he was a guest player for Wrexham when they staged the first match under floodlights in North Wales (against Oswestry) at their Grosvenor Road ground.[1] He left the Druids in 1884 and over the next eight years he made appearances for five clubs.[1]

Family

He was brother-in-law to fellow Welsh international, Bob Roberts.[1]

Honours

Druids

Notes and References

  1. Book: Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players . Davies . Gareth . Garland . Ian . 1991. Bridge Books . 1-872424-11-2. 39.
  2. Web site: Druids 5 – 0 Northwich Victoria. Welsh Cup Final 1882. Welsh Football Data Archive. 16 December 2011. 8 April 1882.
  3. Book: Collett, Mike . The Complete Record of the FA Cup. 2003. Sports Books. 1-899807-19-5. 279.
  4. Web site: England 5 – 0 Wales. Welsh Football Data Archive. 16 December 2011. 17 March 1883.
  5. Book: Gibbons, Philip . Association Football in Victorian England – A History of the Game from 1863 to 1900. 2001. Upfront Publishing. 1-84426-035-6. 69–70.
  6. Web site: England 5 – 0 Wales. www.englandstats.com. 16 December 2011. 3 February 1883.
  7. Web site: Ireland 1 – 1 Wales. Welsh Football Data Archive. 16 December 2011. 17 March 1883. https://web.archive.org/web/20170112105120/http://wfda.co.uk/international_details.php?id=15. 12 January 2017. dead.