Kevin Davies

For other people named Kevin Davies, see Kevin Davies (disambiguation).
Kevin Davies

Davies training with Bolton Wanderers in 2011
Personal information
Full name Kevin Cyril Davies[1]
Date of birth (1977-03-26) 26 March 1977[1]
Place of birth Sheffield, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Playing position Striker
Youth career
Sheffield United
0000–1993 Chesterfield
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1997 Chesterfield 129 (22)
1997–1998 Southampton 25 (9)
1998–1999 Blackburn Rovers 23 (1)
1999–2003 Southampton 82 (10)
2002 → Millwall (loan) 9 (3)
2003–2013 Bolton Wanderers 351 (74)
2013–2015 Preston North End 70 (4)
Total 689 (123)
National team
1994–1995 England U18 8 (0)
1997–2000 England U21 3 (0)
2010 England 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Kevin Cyril Davies (born 26 March 1977) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker for Chesterfield, Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End.

Davies originally made his name as a vital part of the Chesterfield team which reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1997. He left Chesterfield at the end of that season, having made 148 appearances for the club and joined Premier League side Southampton in May 1997. He only spent one season at Southampton, making 30 appearances, before he joined Premier League side Blackburn Rovers in a club-record £7.5 million deal. Once again, he spent a single season at the club, making 29 appearances, before rejoining Southampton in 1999. In his second spell at the club, he made 95 appearances, also spending part of 2002 on loan to First Division side Millwall, where he made nine appearances. Released by Southampton at the end of the 2002–03 season, he joined Premier League side Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer. He was made Bolton team captain in January 2009, but began to fall out of favour at Bolton towards the end of the 2012–13 season, and the club decided against renewing his contract. Davies made 407 appearances for Bolton, scoring 84 goals, then played two seasons at Preston North End before retiring.

He made three appearances for the England under-21 side between 1997 and 2000. At the age of 33, Davies made his international debut, and only appearance, for England against Montenegro in a 0–0 draw on 12 October 2010, coming on as a second-half substitute.

Club career

Chesterfield

Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire,[1] Davies played as a schoolboy with his boyhood club Sheffield United, but was released at the age of 15. He was taken on trial at Chesterfield[2] and served his traineeship with the club.[1] Davies broke into the club's first team after several months.[2] He became Chesterfield's second youngest ever first team player when he appeared against West Ham United in a League Cup tie, aged only 16, on 22 September 1993.[3][4] He signed his first professional contract with the club in April 1994.[1]

Generally, Davies' goalscoring form at Chesterfield was unspectacular, playing mostly wide in midfield and scoring his best total of 11 goals in the 1994–95 promotion season from the Third Division via the play-offs. In his final season at Saltergate he managed a mere three goals from 34 Second Division games but made a major contribution to the Spireites' best-ever FA Cup run, including a hat-trick at Burnden Park in a fourth round tie against Bolton Wanderers and an earlier strike against Scarborough in the 2nd round.[5] Despite his relative lack of goals, his skilful play was still attracting attention from Premier League and First Division clubs during his contribution to Chesterfield's FA Cup exploits, which culminated in a semi-final replay defeat against Middlesbrough.[6]

As a youngster, Davies was far from the aggressive centre-forward he subsequently became at Bolton. At Chesterfield, although very well-built and strong for a teenager, he was known for his skill and intelligence, and it was these qualities that attracted the attention of Southampton manager Graeme Souness.[7]

Southampton

Davies moved to Southampton in May 1997 and, in his first spell with them, scored nine league goals and impressed many, one of which was a notable solo goal in a 2–0 win against Everton at Goodison Park.[8] He also scored the lone goals in historic 1–0 wins against Manchester United[9] and Chelsea,[10] and the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Liverpool.[11]

Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers signed him for £7.5 million in July 1998, ten times what Southampton had paid for him a year earlier and also a club record. Chesterfield received no more money from the switch, having failed to negotiate a sell-on clause. As part of the deal, James Beattie went the other way. However, Davies scored just one league goal, the winner in a victory over Charlton Athletic, in 21 appearances for the club.[12] He scored a further goal in the FA Cup, also against Charlton Athletic, and played a UEFA Cup game that season.[13] At the end of the campaign, Blackburn were relegated a year after finishing sixth in the league and a mere four years after winning the league.

Return to Southampton

Southampton re-signed their former striker in exchange for Egil Østenstad in August 1999. However, just two league matches into his return at Southampton, Davies found himself sent off in a defeat against Liverpool after coming on as a substitute for Mark Hughes. He struggled to gain a first team place throughout the next four years, and was more often than not a substitute. For the 2002–03 season Davies went on loan to Milwall in the First Division, where he played nine times, scoring three goals.

Bolton Wanderers

Davies lining up for Bolton Wanderers in 2008

In summer 2003, he joined Bolton having been released by Southampton. In a season where he rediscovered his best form, he scored ten times and started every league game. He ended the season by winning the club's Player of the Year award and scored a consolation goal for his team in the 2004 League Cup Final against Middlesbrough in at the Millennium Stadium.

Davies is frequently cited as being the player in the Premier League that commits the most fouls, committing more offences than any other Premier League player in for three consecutive seasons from 2004 to 2007. In the 2003–04 and 2007–08 seasons, Davies was slightly better behaved, committing the second highest number of fouls per season. In his Bolton career Davies has committed over 1,000 fouls, more than any other Premier League player in the competition's history.[14][15][16] At the same time Davies has also featured near the top of the list of most fouled players.[17]

During a post match interview with the BBC after a game against Arsenal in January 2009, during which he had been accused of deliberately trying to injure Gaël Clichy in a challenge, he replied that some Arsenal players tried to "con the referee". He added "A few of them let out a big scream, which is a bit embarrassing because it is a man's game ... in my eyes that is cheating the referee ... you just have to get on with the game."[18] On 10 September 2011. he received his 100th yellow card in the Premier League for a foul on Manchester United's Patrice Evra and when he received another booking against Wigan Athletic on 11 February 2012, he became the joint holder of the record for most yellow cards in Premier League history, alongside Lee Bowyer. Paul Scholes has equaled his Premier League yellow card record and Gareth Barry has surpassed this record.

On 8 November 2007, Davies scored a goal away to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Davies's late effort earned Bolton a crucial away point from the 2–2 draw in the UEFA Cup group stage.

On 12 April 2008, Davies scored his 100th career goal in a 1–0 win over West Ham at the Reebok Stadium, despite dislocating a finger during the match and having it placed back into its socket allowing him to play on.[19]

On Saturday 3 May 2008, he made his return from a broken hand to help Bolton retain their Premier League status.

Over the summer of 2008, Hull City tried to sign Kevin Davies from Bolton, but the club turned down their offer.[20] Davies then signed a new contract with Bolton would keep him at the club until 2011.[21]

On 31 January 2009, Davies became captain of Bolton following the sale of Kevin Nolan to Newcastle United.[2] The same day, Davies' first game as captain saw him score two goals in Bolton's 3–2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur as well as equalling his record for goals in a Premier League season.[22] In the following game, at home against West Ham, he scored his 50th goal for Bolton, and his 10th of the season.[23]

In August 2009, Davies stated that he would like to stay at Bolton for the rest of his career.[24] On 13 March 2010, Davies scored the first penalty of his career, netting the second from the spot in a 4–0 home win over Wigan.[25]

Davies set a Premier League records for the most fouls in a season in 2009–10, committing 120 such offences. In the 2010–11 season he went on to break his own record with 121 fouls.[26]

Davies was relegated with Bolton at the end of the 2011–12 season, but shortly after, he signed a new one-year deal with the club and assured the fans he would stay to get Bolton back to the Premier League.[27] He made his 400th appearance for the club at Watford on 2 February 2013.

On 26 March 2013, Bolton announced that they would not be offering Davies a new contract, which would make that season his final for the club.[28] Following this announcement, Davies played no further matches that season, being initially dropped to the bench before eventually being left out of match day squads completely, with reserve team strikers being preferred instead.

Preston North End

On 10 July 2013, Davies signed a two-year contract with League One club Preston North End.[29][30] He made his league debut for Preston on 3 August in a 0–0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and drew praise from his manager for his performance.[31] His first goal for Preston was a penalty in a 2–1 win over Oldham Athletic on 9 September 2013.[32] He went on to score the only goal in a 1–0 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup on 9 December 2013.[33]

On 7 February 2015, he scored his 150th career goal and his first of the season, heading in Paul Gallagher's cross to win a home match against Coventry City.[34] He played 22 minutes as a substitute for hat-trick scorer Jermaine Beckford on 24 May as Preston won 4–0 in the play-off final against Swindon Town at Wembley Stadium.[35]

On 4 September 2015, Davies announced his retirement from football after 22 years in the game.[36]

International career

Davies was asked near the end of the 2009–10 season if he was eligible to play for Scotland. Davies is, to his own knowledge, ineligible to represent Scotland, but further explained he would reject any call-up to the Scottish or Welsh teams even if it was possible.[37]

At the age of 33, Davies was called up to the England squad for the first time in his career for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying game against Montenegro on 12 October 2010.[38] He made his debut as a 69th-minute substitute for Peter Crouch and received a yellow card.[39] At 33 years and 200 days, he became the oldest England debutant since the 38-year-old Leslie Compton in 1950.

Style of play

Davies was known for his bustling, physical playing style; he has committed more fouls than any other player in the history of the Premier League, although conversely he is also one of the most fouled.[2][40]

Personal life

He is the half brother of fellow footballer Jamie Jackson.[41][42]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chesterfield 1993–94[4] Third Division 24400202[lower-alpha 1]0284
1994–95[43] Third Division 411110314[lower-alpha 2]14913
1995–96[44] Second Division 30422204[lower-alpha 1]0386
1996–97[45] Second Division 343742000437
Total 129221069110115830
Southampton 1997–98[46] Premier League 2591043—3012
Blackburn Rovers 1998–99[47] Premier League 21121301[lower-alpha 3]0272
1999–2000[48] First Division 20———20
Total 231213010292
Southampton 1999–2000[48] Premier League 2361010—256
2000–01[49] Premier League 2712110—302
2001–02[50] Premier League 2321031—273
2002–03[51] Premier League 9141——132
Total 82108251—9513
Millwall (loan) 2002–03[51] First Division 93———93
Bolton Wanderers 2003–04[52] Premier League 3890051—4310
2004–05[53] Premier League 3584120—419
2005–06[54] Premier League 37731205[lower-alpha 3]0478
2006–07[55] Premier League 3082110—339
2007–08[56] Premier League 32300108[lower-alpha 3]1414
2008–09[57] Premier League 38121010—4012
2009–10[58] Premier League 3773121—429
2010–11[59] Premier League 3886210—4510
2011–12[60] Premier League 3164220—378
2012–13[61] Championship 3562010—386
Total 3517425818213140785
Preston North End 2013–14[62] League One 38342202[lower-alpha 4]0465
2014–15[63] League One 32150205[lower-alpha 5]0441
Total 704924070906
Career total 6891235519437312818151
  1. 1 2 Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. ↑ Two appearances and one goal in Football League Trophy, two appearances in Third Division play-offs
  3. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
  4. ↑ Appearances in League One play-offs
  5. ↑ Four appearances in Football League Trophy, one in League One play-offs

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
England[64] 201010
Total10

Honours

Chesterfield

Southampton

Bolton Wanderers

Preston North End

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Magowan, Alistair (21 January 2010). "Football – An old-fashioned centre-forward". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Tomlinson, Adam (4 September 2015). "Kevin Davies announces retirement from football". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 Rollin, Jack, ed. (1994). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 166–167, 616–622, 637–638, 655. ISBN 978-0-7472-7857-3.
  5. ↑ Hewitt, Jamie (13 April 1997). "Season of dreaming Spireites". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "Middlesbrough v Chesterfield, 22 April 1997". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Ripley, Dan (11 October 2010). "Kevin Davies – an ageing Reggae Boy finally on the verge of an England debut at 33". Daily Mail. London.
  8. ↑ "Goodison gloom as Saints take points". BBC Sport. 4 November 1997. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "Dell hell for off-colour Red Devils". The Independent. London. 20 January 1998. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  10. ↑ Moore, Glenn (30 December 1997). "Davies' strike is decisive as Saints defy Chelsea". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  11. ↑ Harris, Nick (21 September 1997). "Liverpool bow to Saint Davies". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  12. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (5 December 1998). "Davies scores – and no kidding". The Independent. London. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  13. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (3 January 1999). "FA Cup: Ilic error covers up Charlton deficiency". The Independent. London. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  14. ↑ "2007/2008". Premier League. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  15. ↑ FOOTBALL: TODAY'S TOP 20: HIGHEST FOULS PER GAME RATIO SO FAR THIS | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET.com
  16. ↑ Mcgarry, Ian (1 January 2007). "Official: Davies is the dirtiest". The Sun. London. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  17. ↑ "Bolton don't play proper football, says Van Persie". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  18. ↑ "Davies angered by Arsenal conduct". BBC Sport. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  19. ↑ "Kev's only gone and ton it!". The Sunday People. London. 13 April 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  20. ↑ Bolton News ignore Kevin Davies to Hull story. Manny Road. 1 August 2008.
  21. ↑ Bolton's Kevin Davies signs lucrative new contract. Daily Mirror (London). 29 August 2008.
  22. ↑ Lyon, Sam (31 January 2009). "Bolton 3–2 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  23. ↑ Shea, Julian (21 February 2009). "Bolton 2–1 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  24. ↑ "Kevin Davies promises to finish his career at Bolton". Daily Mirror. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  25. ↑ "Bolton 4–0 Wigan". BBC Sport. 13 March 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  26. ↑ Ripley, Dan (22 May 2011). "Premier League live: Blackpool and Birmingham relegated after defeats at Manchester United and Tottenham respectively – as it happened". Daily Mail. London.
  27. ↑ "Davies signs new one-year deal". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  28. ↑ "Kevin Davies: Bolton captain to leave Wanderers after 10 seasons". BBC Sport. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  29. ↑ "Kevin Davies Signs!". Preston North End F.C. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  30. ↑ "Kevin Davies: Preston North End sign ex-Bolton & England striker". BBC Sport. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  31. ↑ "Grayson expects Davies impact". Sky Sports. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  32. ↑ "Preston 2–1 Oldham". BBC Sport. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "Wycombe 0–1 Preston". BBC Sport. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Preston 1–0 Coventry". BBC Sport. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  35. 1 2 Middleton, Nathan (24 May 2015). "Preston North End 4–0 Swindon Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  36. ↑ "Kevin Davies: Ex-Preston, Bolton and England striker retires". BBC Sport. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  37. ↑ Iles, Marc (2 August 2010). "Davies rejects Scotland offer". The Bolton News. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  38. ↑ "England boss Fabio Capello calls up Kevin Davies". BBC Sport. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  39. ↑ McNulty, Phil (12 October 2010). "England 0 Montenegro 0". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  40. ↑ Custis, Neil (19 March 2008). "Man Utd boss Alex Ferguson warns Bolton's Kevin Davies". The Sun. London. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  41. ↑ "Two Jamies Get Their Chance". Chesterfield F.C. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  42. ↑ "Blues add teen spirit". Derbyshire Times. Chesterfield. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  43. 1 2 Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1995). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 124–125, 552–553, 578–584, 608–611, 597–599. ISBN 978-0-7472-7823-8.
  44. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1996). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 124–125, 573–576, 587–591, 598–601. ISBN 978-0-7472-7781-1.
  45. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1997). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1997–98. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 130–131, 578–579, 588, 597–606. ISBN 978-0-7472-7738-5.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  48. 1 2 "Games played by Kevin Davies in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  51. 1 2 "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
    "Player Profile: Kevin Davies". Premier League. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  60. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  62. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Davies in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  63. 1 2 3 "K. Davies". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  64. ↑ "Davies, Kevin". National Football Teams. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
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