Thomas Davies (footballer born 1872)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Davies was a Welsh
amateur footballer who played at half back
for Druids
for twenty years around the turn of the twentieth century. He also made four appearances for the Welsh national team
.
who played for the local Druids
side, then one of the top teams in Wales. He was a stalwart of the Druids side between 1890 and 1910 and later became a member of the club committee. He had a reputation for strength and fitness and is reputed to have never left the field of play as a result of injury; he put his longevity down to "the entire abstention from tobacco and alcoholic drinks".
Despite being only a few inches over 5 feet tall, Davies was described as a "glutton for work"; the England
international, C.B. Fry commented that he was "astonished to find a man of such diminutive stature capable of so much effective work".
During his Druids career, Davies played in five Welsh Cup
finals, being on the winning side in 1898, 1899 and 1904 and finishing as runners-up in 1900 and 1901.
Davies made his international debut for Wales
in a 2–1 defeat by England at Portsmouth
's Fratton Park
on 2 March 1903 and retained his place for the next two matches, a 1–0 defeat by Scotland
and a 2–0 defeat by Ireland. His fourth and final international appearance was in a 1–1 draw with Scotland on 12 March 1904.
Brick and Terracotta Works.
(16 appearances) and Robert (1 appearance).
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
amateur footballer who played at half back
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
for twenty years around the turn of the twentieth century. He also made four appearances for the Welsh national team
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
.
Football career
Davies was one of five brothers from Cefn MawrCefn Mawr
Cefn Mawr is a large village in the community of Cefn within the County Borough of Wrexham, Wales. Its name translates as "great ridge".The community of Cefn comprises the villages of Cefn Mawr, Cefn-bychan , Acrefair, Penybryn, Newbridge, Plasmadoc and Rhosymedre and is situated on the northern...
who played for the local Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
side, then one of the top teams in Wales. He was a stalwart of the Druids side between 1890 and 1910 and later became a member of the club committee. He had a reputation for strength and fitness and is reputed to have never left the field of play as a result of injury; he put his longevity down to "the entire abstention from tobacco and alcoholic drinks".
Despite being only a few inches over 5 feet tall, Davies was described as a "glutton for work"; the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international, C.B. Fry commented that he was "astonished to find a man of such diminutive stature capable of so much effective work".
During his Druids career, Davies played in five Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
finals, being on the winning side in 1898, 1899 and 1904 and finishing as runners-up in 1900 and 1901.
Davies made his international debut for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in a 2–1 defeat by England at Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
's Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
on 2 March 1903 and retained his place for the next two matches, a 1–0 defeat by Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and a 2–0 defeat by Ireland. His fourth and final international appearance was in a 1–1 draw with Scotland on 12 March 1904.
Career outside football
Davies spent most of his working life at the RuabonRuabon
Ruabon is a village and community in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales.More than 80% of the population of 2,400 were born in Wales with 13.6% speaking Welsh....
Brick and Terracotta Works.
Family
Three of his brothers also played for Wales: Joe (7 appearances), LloydLloyd Davies
Lloyd Davies was a former professional footballer, who played in the Football League for Stoke for whom he made thirty seven appearances. He was born in Cefn Mawr, Wales...
(16 appearances) and Robert (1 appearance).
Honours
DruidsDruids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
winners: 1898, 1899 and 1904 - Welsh Cup finalists: 1900 and 1901