Manchester United 1 Southampton 4 (Ron Davies 4) Part 1 - Edited Highlights

If like me you are a Saints fan in possession of a bus pass and a season ticket at a concessionary rate, the name Ron Davies will already conjure a nostalgic smile. Amongst my generation Ron Davies is simply a Saints Legend and in mine and many other's opinion, the best header of a football we've ever seen.

If however you are a younger Saints fan or just a fan of today's Premiership Football you might need a little more background so excuse me if I quote briefly from his online biography:

"During close season 1966 manager Ted Bates spent a club record £55,000 to bring the 24 year old centre forward to Southampton as the club prepared to face their first season in the top flight. It soon became clear that the money had been well spent as Davies went on his goal scoring run of 12 goals in 10 consecutive league games and ended the 66-'67 season having scored 37 goals in 41 games to top the goal scoring charts. A big but amiable giant, Davies was useful on the ground, but it was in the air where he inflicted most damage.
With crosses from Terry Paine and John Sydenham floating in, Davies continued to dominate the aerial battles and he again headed (along with George Best) the scoring charts for 1967-68 season. His heading powers were awesome and when on 16 August 1969 he scored all four Saints goals in a match at Old Trafford, Matt Busby said that Davies was the best centre forward in Europe.
During his career with the club Davies scored 134 league goals placing him 8th on the club's list of all-time goalscorers. He won 29 caps for Wales, 23 of them whilst at Southampton and his total of 134 league goals included three 4-goal hauls, the most memorable being at Old Trafford in August 1969."

These highlights (Pt 1) and interview (Pt 2) are taken from ITV's "The Big Match" from that weekend in August 1969. Forget the discussion whether it was three goals or four for Ron...today there would be no dispute, definitely four. The headers shown here aren't the height of Ron's powers more "bread and butter" headers that were Ron's "stock in trade" If he were plying his trade today "Ron Davies -- Heading Masterclass" would be a top selling DVD...sadly this is about all that exists online.

Many thanks to Duncan Holley for supplying the original video and to Mike Gardiner for videoing the original from my PC screen.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Southampton FC
• Ron Davies
• John Sydenham
• Terry Paine
• Frank Saul
• John McGrath
• Saints
• great headers
• top goal scorers
• division one

[mizofan]

Another great header of the ball was Ron's legendary fellow Welshman John Charles. I can't think of better since Ron- yet not many people know of him these days. Thanks a lot for the video.

[liamkiley9]

Correction it was Utd versus Walsall in FA cup not Wolves.

[liamkiley9]

I am life long utd fan and this was the 1st professional game I ever saw-was only 8yrs old at time. Happy memories as uncle that took me to Old Trafford is no longer here--may he rest in peace. I did not recollect Best playing--now very happy to see he did play--only time I saw him play. Many thanks for upload of this video. Remember Ron Davies going to Utd many years later under Docherty and seeing him come on for Utd against Wolves in FA cup. Ron was super player --real handful

[mox888]

In Terry Paine and John Sydenham, Ron had the perfect supply. They just had to beat their full-back and cross the ball to the far post and Ron would be there...he just seemed to defy gravity, hanging there, waiting to plant the perfect timed header past the goalkeeper.

I've never seen a modern footballer who could head a ball like Ron and I don't suppose we ever will. Referees today let too much go in the penalty area...a centre-back today wouldn't let go of Ron's shirt.

[no1knowledge]

I supported leyton orient from the early 1960s and remember Ron Davies as a truly great centre forward and a gentleman player. How he did not get signed up by one of the very top clubs early in his career was always a mystery to me. In this day and age centre forwards who can head the ball seems to be a lost art. I dread to think how much Ron would have been worth in todays transfer fees. With life a lot easier for forwards than in his day, he would have scored a hatfull in the modern game .

[sunaru1]

A brilliant goalkeeper whose career was cut short. Tragic.

[vindaloo1000]

@sunaru1 - The keeper is Gerry Gurr...who played 40 odd games in the first team before moving to Aldershot Town.....

[sunaru1]

@vindaloo1000 Who is that in goal for Saints? It does not look like Eric Martin.

[flashhart2000]

I'm surprised they didn't bring on Giggs

[MrLawman10]

utd should have bought ron davies that summer, along with mike england and colin harvey, they were an ageing team and in desperate need of rebuilding, george best was right when he said he was playing with inferior players.