WILLIAM CHARLES DAVIES

Born Newtown 1881; died Leominster 1962

Winger

Four caps: (Crystal Palace) v Scotland 1908; (West Bromwich Albion) v England 1909; v Scotland 1910; (Crystal Palace) v England 1914

Career: Stoke City 1905-07 26 apps, three goals; Crystal Palace 1907-08 30 Southern League apps; West Bromwich Albion 1908-10; Crystal Palace May 1910-15 162 Southern League apps 18 goals.

William Davies was born in Newtown and moved to Knighton as a child.

Davies Was a bricklayer and stone mason and played for Rhayader Town, Llandrindod Wells and Knighton Town in the Mid Wales League before becoming a professional footballer at Stoke City in 1905.

Davies enjoyed several years with the Potteries club before a switch to Southern League and Crystal Palace.

Davies also made his international debut following his move to Selhurst Park in 1908.

. It was reported Davies ‘an exceptionally fine wingman and a most dangerous goalgetter for a man who does the bulk of his play near the touchline.’

A spell at West Bromwich Albion was followed by a return to his beloved Palace where he ended his career on the outbreak of war in 1915.

Davies worked in a munitions factory during the war before setting up the business of Keely and Davies, building contractors, in Wigmore, Herefordshire in 1920.

Davies continued to live on the borders and died in Leominster in 1962.