davidson_william
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| Name: William R. Davidson |
Nationality: Scotland |
| Position: left-half |
Signing Information: Transferred from: Annbank, 07/1893, £ |
| Birthdate: 00-00-0000 |
Years at Club: 1893-1895 |
| Age: () |
Debut: 02/09/1893 v Burnley (A) 3-2 (League Division One) |
| Birthplace: Scotland |
Previous clubs: Annbank |
| Height: |
Farewell to Manchester United: Retired from game due to injury, 05/1895 |
| Weight: |
Passed Away: PA |
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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. |
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| League |
League Cup |
FA Cup |
Charity Shield |
European Cup |
Europa League |
Super Cup |
Cup Winners Cup |
Inter-Continental Cup |
World Clubs Cup |
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| No |
Season |
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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 |
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