Paul Davis (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Vincent Davis is an English
former footballer.
Born in Dulwich
, London
, Davis signed for Arsenal
as an apprentice in 1977 and turned professional the following year. A talented left-footed midfield
er, he made his debut in 1980 in a North London
derby
against Tottenham Hotspur
, and within a year he was a regular in the Arsenal side, as well as a member of the England U21
team.
Davis, who wore number 4 before Arsenal captain Vieira, was an integral part of the successful Arsenal side of the late 1980s, winning the League Cup
in 1987 and the First Division
in 1989 and 1991.
Although dropped from the side in autumn 1991 and left on the sidelines after a disagreement with his manager George Graham, Davis made a late comeback, playing in both the League Cup and FA Cup
finals in 1993 as Arsenal chalked up their Cup Double. He also featured in Arsenal's Cup Winners' Cup win against Parma
the following year. Davis was released by Arsenal on a free transfer in the summer of 1995; despite his injuries he still appeared 447 times for Arsenal, scoring 37 goals. He never played for the England senior team, despite a set of appearances for the U21s and 'B' team.Davis became the first black player to estabile himself into the Arsenal squard in the early 1990s and the first black captain.
After leaving Arsenal, he briefly joined Norwegian
side Stabæk in 1995. After his spell at Stabæk, appearing in one game as a substitute, he returned to London to join Brentford. He signed on a free transfer in September 1995, ending 18 years at Arsenal, but he retired within a year after just five appearances for the Griffin Park
side.
Davis returned to Arsenal to become a youth coach in 1998, before leaving the club in 2003 to seek his fortune elsewhere. In September 2003 Davis joined The Professional Footballers' Association coaching department and is know a senior coach/coach educator for the organisation, he is also a for the Kick it out and Show rasim the red card organisation. On October 27, 2005, Davis was announced as assistant manager of Kettering Town
by new manager aul Gascoigne], he left Kettering at the same time as Gascoigne's departure from the club on December 5, 2005, but continies to work for the Professional Footballer's Association coaching department.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer.
Born in Dulwich
Dulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Davis signed for Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
as an apprentice in 1977 and turned professional the following year. A talented left-footed midfield
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
er, he made his debut in 1980 in a North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, and within a year he was a regular in the Arsenal side, as well as a member of the England U21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
team.
Davis, who wore number 4 before Arsenal captain Vieira, was an integral part of the successful Arsenal side of the late 1980s, winning the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
in 1987 and the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1989 and 1991.
Although dropped from the side in autumn 1991 and left on the sidelines after a disagreement with his manager George Graham, Davis made a late comeback, playing in both the League Cup and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finals in 1993 as Arsenal chalked up their Cup Double. He also featured in Arsenal's Cup Winners' Cup win against Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
the following year. Davis was released by Arsenal on a free transfer in the summer of 1995; despite his injuries he still appeared 447 times for Arsenal, scoring 37 goals. He never played for the England senior team, despite a set of appearances for the U21s and 'B' team.Davis became the first black player to estabile himself into the Arsenal squard in the early 1990s and the first black captain.
After leaving Arsenal, he briefly joined Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
side Stabæk in 1995. After his spell at Stabæk, appearing in one game as a substitute, he returned to London to join Brentford. He signed on a free transfer in September 1995, ending 18 years at Arsenal, but he retired within a year after just five appearances for the Griffin Park
Griffin Park
Griffin Park is a football ground situated in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It has been the home ground of League One side Brentford since it was built in 1904. It is known for being the only English league football ground to have a pub on each corner, and is situated in a...
side.
Davis returned to Arsenal to become a youth coach in 1998, before leaving the club in 2003 to seek his fortune elsewhere. In September 2003 Davis joined The Professional Footballers' Association coaching department and is know a senior coach/coach educator for the organisation, he is also a for the Kick it out and Show rasim the red card organisation. On October 27, 2005, Davis was announced as assistant manager of Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
by new manager aul Gascoigne], he left Kettering at the same time as Gascoigne's departure from the club on December 5, 2005, but continies to work for the Professional Footballer's Association coaching department.
External links
- Arsenal profile
- Paul Davis, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database