William Davidson: Man United left-half Profile & Stats
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Portrait of William Davidson

William Davidson

Position: left-half

Scotland Scotland flag

PWDLFA

HAN P W D L F A Diff Win%
H 20 7 6 7 41 35 +6 35.00
A 23 5 1 17 22 53 -31 21.74
N 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0.00
TOTALS 44 12 7 25 63 90 -27 27.27

Name: William R. Davidson
Birthdate: 00-00-0000
Age: 0
Birthplace: Scotland
Height:
Weight:
Years at Club: 1893-1895
Signing Info: Transferred from: Annbank, 07/1893, £
Previous Clubs: Annbank
Debut: 02/09/1893 v Burnley (A) 3-2 (League Division One)
Farewell: Retired from game due to injury, 05/1895
Passed Away: PA

Biography

It was once stated in the papers that "Will Davidson had no equal in the Annbank team". And, if that was no high praise, it was also said that "as a tackler, he had few superiors". An insight was given into his style of play: "He is not polished, rather the opposite. He is a real half-back from the uncultured home of countrydom".
In this vein, Davidson served Annbank for years, from at least 1888. He played a starring role as they won both the Ayrshire Cup and Charity Cup in 1890, and he even represented the county team. Though Annbank were a non-league side, he did appear competitively for them in several Scottish Cup ties.
It was with great hesitation that they allowed Will to join Newton Heath in July 1893 after club officials Mr. Albut and Mr. Compton personally travelled north of the border for him. Davidson showed he was "big enough and willing" in a couple of practice matches against Heath's reserve side in August before cementing his place as the regular left-half throughout 1893-94, missing just two league games. His highlight was scoring the only goal of the game against Wolverhampton with a header from a corner. Alas, the Heathens were relegated that campaign.
Davidson was one of only three players to appear in Heath's last ever Division One game and first ever Second Division outing. Again he was on the scoresheet in 1894-95 with a splendid long-range shot in a win over Rotherham. Sadly, on December 1st, he was hurt badly in the encounter with Crewe and had to be carried off the field shortly before half-time. Though Will made the odd appearance for the reserves in the last part of the season, it was obvious his first rate career was over. He was released in the summer in what was a great loss for both parties.
Heath arranged a benefit match for him on September 14th, 1896. It was billed as "Scottish versus English" players (of the area), and the Athletic News promoted Will as "one of the best backs in his day". However, only a few hundred fans turned out for the 2-2 draw. Initially, he remained in Manchester and ran a pub on Oldham Road, and he even applied - vainly - for the club's vacant secretarial position upon AH Albut's resignation in June 1900.
However, the Scot evidently returned home after the turn of the century. It was while watching Ayr Parkhouse that he recommended Manchester United sign Alec Bell in 1903, and Bell went on to be a major star of the club's first golden era. Biography kindly provided by Charbel Boujaoude.
 
League League Cup FA Cup Charity Shield European Cup Europa League Super Cup Cup Winners Cup Inter-cont Cup World Clubs Cup    
Season Goals Season Apps
No Season League Goals League Apps LC Goals LC Apps FAC Goals FAC Apps CS Goals CS Apps EC Goals EC Apps Europa Goals Europa Apps SC Goals SC Apps CWC Goals CWC Apps IC Goals IC Apps CWC Goals CWC Apps Season
Goals		 Season
Apps
1. 1893-1894 1 29 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 32
2. 1894-1895 1 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 12
TOTALS 2 41 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 44

Detailed Match & Performance Charts

MUFC Player Goals MUFC Player Appearances MUFC Player Opponent Manager MUFC Player Club Manager
No Opponent Goals Appearances
1. Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 1
2. Rotherham United 1 1
No Opponent Appearances Goals
1. Darwen 4 0
2. Blackburn Rovers 3 0
3. Burnley 2 0
4. West Bromwich Albion 2 0
5. Sheffield Wednesday 2 0
6. Nottingham Forest 2 0
7. Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 1
8. Sheffield United 2 0
9. Everton 2 0
10. Sunderland 2 0
11. Bolton Wanderers 2 0
12. Aston Villa 2 0
13. Preston North End 2 0
14. Stoke City 2 0
15. Crewe Alexandra 2 0
16. Leicester City 2 0
17. Derby County 1 0
18. Middlesbrough 1 0
19. Liverpool 1 0
20. Burton Wanderers 1 0
21. Arsenal 1 0
22. Burton Swifts 1 0
23. Manchester City 1 0
24. Rotherham United 1 1
25. Grimsby Town 1 0
No Opponent Manager No
1. Darwen Committee 4
2. Mitchell, Thomas 3
3. Sutcliffe, Arthur 2
4. Jackson, Henry 2
5. Dickinson, Arthur 2
6. Radford, Harry 2
7. Addenbrooke, Jack 2
8. Wostinholm, John 2
9. Molyneux, Dick 2
10. Watson, Tom 2
11. Bentley, John 2
12. Ramsay, George 2
13. Preston North End Committee 2
14. Reeves, Arthur 2
15. Crewe Alexandra Committee 2
16. Lee, J. 2
17. Derby County Committee 1
18. Middlesbrough Committee 1
19. Barclay, William 1
20. Burton Wanderers Committee 1
21. Hollis, Sam 1
22. Burton Swifts Committee 1
23. Parlby, Joshua 1
24. Rotherham United Committee 1
25. ? 1
No MUFC Managers Count
1. Albut, Alf 44
Stadiums Competition Opponents Opponent Nationality
No Stadium Count
1. Bank Street 20
2. Ewood Park 3
3. Barley Bank 2
4. Abbey Park 1
5. Bramall Lane 1
6. Deepdale 1
7. Derby Turn 1
8. Filbert Street 1
9. Goodison Park 1
10. Gresty Road 1
11. Hillsborough 1
12. Hyde Road 1
13. Molineux 1
14. Newcastle Road 1
15. Peel Croft 1
16. Perry Bar 1
17. Pikes Lane 1
18. Racecourse Ground 1
19. Stoney Lane 1
20. Town Ground 1
21. Turf Moor 1
22. Victoria Ground 1
No Competition Count
1. League Division One 28
2. League Division Two 12
3. FA Cup 3
4. Test Match 1
No Opponent Count
1. Darwen 4
2. Blackburn Rovers 3
3. Burnley 2
4. West Bromwich Albion 2
5. Sheffield Wednesday 2
6. Nottingham Forest 2
7. Wolverhampton Wanderers 2
8. Sheffield United 2
9. Everton 2
10. Sunderland 2
11. Bolton Wanderers 2
12. Aston Villa 2
13. Preston North End 2
14. Stoke City 2
15. Crewe Alexandra 2
16. Leicester City 2
17. Derby County 1
18. Middlesbrough 1
19. Liverpool 1
20. Burton Wanderers 1
21. Arsenal 1
22. Burton Swifts 1
23. Manchester City 1
24. Rotherham United 1
25. Grimsby Town 1
No Opponent Nationality Count
1. England 44
Roy Keane own goal v Real Madrid Old Trafford 2000 Cup Finals
No Date Opponent Competition Own Goals
Player has never scored an own goal against the club.
No Date Opponent WDL F-A Competition
Player never featured in a Cup Final.
Penalties scored for Manchester United Manchester United Hat-Tricks
No Date Opponents Competition Penaltys
Player has never scored a penalty for the club.
No Date Opponent Competition Goals
Player has never scored a hat-trick or better during a game.
 
Red Cards  
No Date Opponent Competition
Player has never been sent off during a match.
 

All Matches played
No Date Comp Opponent WDL F-A HAN Goal!! Scorers Opponent scorers
1. 02-09-1893 Div 1 Burnley W 3-2 H 0 Alf Farman ??', ??', ??' (pen) Arthur Brady 25', James "Jimmy" Hill 35'
2. 09-09-1893 Div 1 West Bromwich Albion L 1-3 A 0 Bob Donaldson ??' Tom Pearson ??', Roddy McLeod ??', Sammy Nicholls ??'
3. 16-09-1893 Div 1 Sheffield Wednesday W 1-0 A 0 Alf Farman 17'
4. 23-09-1893 Div 1 Nottingham Forest D 1-1 H 0 Bob Donaldson ??' James Collins ??'
5. 30-09-1893 Div 1 Darwen L 0-1 A 0 Walter Dunlop ??'
6. 07-10-1893 Div 1 Derby County L 0-2 A 0 John Clements ??' (o.g.), Johnny McMillan 87'
7. 14-10-1893 Div 1 West Bromwich Albion W 4-1 H 0 Bob Donaldson 4', Fred Erentz ??', John Peden ??', ?? Oliver Norman ??'
8. 21-10-1893 Div 1 Burnley L 1-4 A 0 William Hood 87' Peter Turnbull 8', 75', Jock Espie 60', James "Jimmy" Hill 65'
9. 28-10-1893 Div 1 Wolves L 0-2 A 0 Joe Butcher ??', David Wykes ??'
10. 04-11-1893 Div 1 Darwen L 0-1 H 0 John McKnight 18'
11. 11-11-1893 Div 1 Wolves W 1-0 H 1 William Davidson ??'
12. 25-11-1893 Div 1 Sheffield United L 1-3 A 0 Thomas Fitzsimmons ??' Joseph Fall 13' (o.g.), Harry Hammond 43', Billy Fleming ??'
13. 02-12-1893 Div 1 Everton L 0-3 H 0 Fred Geary 48', ??' (pen), Edgar Chadwick ??'
14. 06-12-1893 Div 1 Sunderland L 1-4 A 0 William Campbell 69' Jimmy Millar 10', 70', Johnny Campbell 39', 40'
15. 09-12-1893 Div 1 Bolton Wanderers L 0-2 A 0 Alex Paton ??', Jimmy Cassidy ??'
16. 16-12-1893 Div 1 Aston Villa L 1-3 H 0 John "Jack" Peden ??' Andew Mitchell ??' (o.g.), ??' (o.g.), John Devey ??'
17. 23-12-1893 Div 1 Preston North End L 0-2 A 0 James Sharp 54', Jimmy Ross ??'
18. 06-01-1894 Div 1 Everton L 0-2 A 0 Edgar Chadwick ??', Jack Southworth ??'
19. 13-01-1894 Div 1 Sheffield Wednesday L 1-2 H 0 John "Jack" Peden ??' Toddles Woolhouse ??', ??'
20. 27-01-1894 FAC Middlesbrough W 4-0 H 0 John "Jack" Peden ??', Alf Farman ??', Bob Donaldson ??', ??'
21. 03-02-1894 Div 1 Aston Villa L 1-5 A 0 William Mathieson ??' John Devey ??', ??', ??' Dennis Hodgetts ??', John Reynolds ??'
22. 10-02-1894 FAC Blackburn Rovers D 0-0 H 0
23. 17-02-1894 FAC Blackburn Rovers L 1-5 A 0 Bob Donaldson 13' Jimmy Haydock 11', Harry Chippendale ??', James Whitehead ??', ??', Mitchell Calvey ??'
24. 03-03-1894 Div 1 Sunderland L 2-4 H 0 John "Jack" Peden ??', James McNaught ??' Jimmy Hannah ??', ??', Johnny Campbell ??', ??'
25. 10-03-1894 Div 1 Sheffield United L 0-2 H 0 Hugh Gallacher ??', Hugh Morris 88'
26. 23-03-1894 Div 1 Stoke City W 6-2 H 0 John Peden ??', ??', Fred Erentz ??', John Clarkin ??', Alf Farman ??', ??' William Hood ??' (o.g.), Billy Dickson ??'
27. 24-03-1894 Div 1 Bolton Wanderers D 2-2 H 0 Bob Donaldson ??', Alf Farman ??' Jimmy Cassidy ??', Robert Tannahill ??'
28. 26-03-1894 Div 1 Blackburn Rovers L 0-4 A 0 Josh Hargreaves 20', ??', Jimmy Haydock 60', Harry Chippendale 70'
29. 31-03-1894 Div 1 Stoke City L 1-3 A 0 John Clarkin ??' Joe Schofield 25', Tommy Clare ??', Wally McReddie ??'
30. 07-04-1894 Div 1 Nottingham Forest L 0-2 A 0 John Brodie ??', ??'
31. 14-04-1894 Div 1 Preston North End L 1-3 H 0 William Mathieson ??' George Drummond ??', Jimmy Ross ??', Charles Dickson ??'
32. 28-04-1894 TM Liverpool L 0-2 N 0 Patrick Gordon 15', Harry Bradshaw 30'
33. 08-09-1894 Div 2 Burton Wanderers L 0-1 A 0 Isaac Moore 65'
34. 15-09-1894 Div 2 Crewe Alexandra W 6-1 H 0 Richard Smith ??', ??', John Dow ??', ??', John Clarkin ??', John McCartney ??' John "Love" Jones ??'
35. 22-09-1894 Div 2 Leicester City W 3-2 A 0 John Dow 12', ??', Richard Smith ??' David Skea ??', Willie McArthur 87'
36. 06-10-1894 Div 2 Darwen D 1-1 A 0 Bob Donaldson 7' William McKennie 2'
37. 13-10-1894 Div 2 Arsenal D 3-3 H 0 John Clarkin ??', Bob Donaldson ??', ??' Peter Mortimer ??', ??', *Henry Boyd ??'
38. 20-10-1894 Div 2 Burton Swifts W 2-1 A 0 Bob Donaldson ??', ??' Alex Boggie 15'
39. 27-10-1894 Div 2 Leicester City D 2-2 H 0 James McNaught ??', Richard Smith ??' David Skea 42', ??'
40. 03-11-1894 Div 2 Manchester City W 5-2 A 0 Richard Smith 13', 14', ??, ??, John Clarkin ??' *Billy Meredith ??', ??'
41. 10-11-1894 Div 2 Rotherham United W 3-2 H 1 William Davidson 3', Bob Donaldson ??', James Peters ??' *James Coupar ??', Jimmy McCormick ??'
42. 17-11-1894 Div 2 Grimsby Town L 1-2 A 0 John Clarkin ??' James Stott ??', James Fairburn ??'
43. 24-11-1894 Div 2 Darwen D 1-1 H 0 Bob Donaldson ??' John King ??'
44. 01-12-1894 Div 2 Crewe Alexandra W 2-0 A 0 Richard Smith ??', John Clarkin ??'
 

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