It was .50 years ago today...

[david in sweden]

....that Saints signed the Norwich striker Ron Davies for a (then) club record fee of £55,000 and (just as Matt Le Tissier would 30 years later).. almost single-handedly kept Saints afloat in the top flight for half-a-dozen seasons with masses of goals. (Career total 153 in 277 games).

 

One Saints player (anonymous) said...£50,000? ...Can anyone be worth that much? Whilst Saints fans were asking themselves the same question,

the answer came quickly as Ron scored in his third League match...and then proceeded to equal a League record by scoring in 10 successive games.

It was easier to say ..when didn't he score?...as he netted a total of 37 League goals ..in 26 of that season's 42 matches)...and a few more in Cup games.

 

His first hat-trick came in January 1967, when he scored three times in an amazing 4-4 game at the Dell v. Leicester. He scored 3 again v Burnley in April and well and truly relegated Aston Villa in the last game of the season, when Saints slaughtered them 6-2 at The Dell....with Ron scoring 4 times, as well as having one goal disallowed and hitting the woodwork. By now, he had scored 50% ....of the 74 Saints' League goals that season.

Even that was just enough to help Saints avoid relegation and finish 19th in the 22 team League (as was) with a leaky defence that had conceded 92 times !

 

His scoring talent continued when he scored 9 times in the first 5 games the following season including 4 goals when Saints beat Chelsea 6-2 at Stamford Bridge, and managed 28 League goals in his second season. By now he had struck up a good scoring partnership with Martin Chivers, (who later moved onto Spurs,) but was later abley replaced by the young Mick Channon. As expected, by this time Ron had " been found out " and came in for some brutal treatment from a series of " no nonsense defenders " in some other clubs, who made no bones about " stopping him " before he got anywhere near goal.

 

Despite this Ron managed 20 League goals in his third season, but fans of that era will never forget his finest match, when in August 1969 Saints went to Old Trafford and beat Man Utd's best team ..(Best, Charlton and Law included) by 4-1 .....with Ron getting all four, in what was called winger John's Sydenham's finest match, when JS supplied Ron with a series of inch perfect crosses.

 

After that game United's manager Matt Busby called Ron "the finest centre forward in Europe", and (supposedly) bid a huge sum for Ron....which Saints refused. Despite injury Ron soldiered on ....and still managed 17 goals in season 1970-71, and 11 more in 1971-72.

He managed just 9 goals in 24 starts in 1972-73, but the spark had long gone, and subsequent moves to Portsmouth, and finally Man.Utd saw no improvement.

 

The secret of his success was due in no small measure to Saints' two wingers Terry Paine and John Sydenham who gave him excellent service in every game.

Ron's amazing ability to head a ball became a national talking point, a skill he developed as a youngster at Chester, when the club manager made him train ..... ....in heavy Army boots. By the time, he got to play games in lighter weight football boots, he could easily jump head and shoulders above most defenders.

Those who only talk about his remarkable heading ability, fail to remember that he also had two good feet, and could score well with either foot, and well as putting away a few skilfully-placed penalties.

 

Every generation has its own legends and it does no good to try and " compare them " to each other. Just as Charlie Wayman before him.... and the Channon and Le Tissier sagas would unfold in later years....Ron Davies still has a permanent place in Saints' history, and for " we oldies " .... firmly in our memories.

Edited 6 August, 2016 by david in sweden

[jasonb]

Banner?

[ericofarabia]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/ron-davies-an-appreciation-840269.aspx

 

Love the picture of the graffiti, remember seeing it on various walls and bridges around town.

One of my most enduring memories of my early days going to The Dell was buying the MatchDay Programme,

and virtually every week the cover picture would be that of Big Ron soaring majestically above the defenders and keeper to head the ball home for another goal.

 

Thanks for the memories Ron

[david in sweden]

Banner?

 

I noted that ..no Wayman and No Ron !

 

.....perhaps our media staff aren't fully acquainted with the club's history?

[ENSKIED]

Thanks for that David! An excellent and well-written piece about a great footballer I knew little about.

[Give it to Ron]

My favourite Saints player ever hence my username.

Just the best header of the ball in 50+ years of watching I have seen.

No-one comes close but he had some terrific supply from Paine and Sydie

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[VectisSaint]

I noted that ..no Wayman and No Ron !

 

.....perhaps our media staff aren't fully acquainted with the club's history?

 

This, contines to baffle how Big Ron can be omitted from the Banner. So sad that we never got to see him back at St Marys.

[hutch]

I noted that ..no Wayman and No Ron !

 

.....perhaps our media staff aren't fully acquainted with the club's history?

Media staff? For a mere fiver a year? Bloody bargain.

[ericofarabia]

Two pics that sum up Big Ron in action.

 

 

Click on to enlarge~!!

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Shame the Echo piece included a photo of Ron Davies the full-back

A Jocky Wilson moment

[Piran]

Thanks for that David. I was lucky enough to watch just about all Ron's games at the Dell, and a few away too. All that has been said above is true; he really was a wonderful header of the ball, but perhaps more should be made of his finishing ability. Many times, watching from the Milton Road terraces, Saints would score at Archers Road end from a goal mouth melee and we wouldn't know who the scorer had been, until out of the bunch of players would emerge Ron Davies, receiving the hand shakes and back slaps of his team mates. None of your kissing and hugs in those days!

[OldNick]

A true hero. If he was with us now he would be gone already.The club would have sold my childhood hero. Not the clubs fault as he would have an agent who would have had Busby getting him to agitate so that Big Ron moved to them.

I feel sorry for the young fans now who see their heors sold year in year out. I cant see many players of todays generation having the same affection from the fans in generations. RL is the closest I would have thought.

[Nutwood2]

Well, that's interesting David and , on that day 50 years ago, I was with my mate and our families on a canal holiday on the Grand Union Canal when our transistor radio s parked into life temporarily with the sports news. Yes, it was true. The news of the fantastic deal which took the greatest centre forward of all time to the mighty Saints which transformed our lives. We were there at the Dell for many years to come watching the great man . Why our great club has never built a statue for Ron we will never know!

God bless, Ron.

[OldNick]

Im sure you have all seen this but I remeber wandering around the Dell on the day watching the reseves and not believing it as the goals were announced over the tannoy.

[OldNick]

part 2

[Lets B Avenue]

Two pics that sum up Big Ron in action.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2122[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]2123[/ATTACH]

 

Click on to enlarge~!!

 

Better still. See above.

[glengarryleads]

pretty sure it was club legend Maya Yoshida picking up the ninth-minute winner in the 1-0 over West Ham, .50 years ago today.

 

even today, I can still remember the goal...

[Badger]

Shame the Echo piece included a photo of Ron Davies the full-back

A Jocky Wilson moment

 

Better than confusing him with the disgraced former Labour politician of the same name though.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1424188/Moments-of-madness-that-ruined-Ron-Davies.html

[Badger]

That's a good read David, thanks for posting it.

 

I was too young to see Ron's first few seasons with us, and by the time I was introduced to Saints, Ron Davies already had folklore status. My first season 1969/70 was in good time to take in his 4 goals at Man Utd though.

 

I remember the press speculation after that when Sir Matt Busby described Ron as the best Centre Forward in the world, and Man Utd were said to have offered a then record of £200,000 for him (I think the record at that time was still £100,000 for Alan Clarke), so seriously big money in its day. I can't remember if Ron submitted a transfer request on the back of their interest but Saints said "no". What has stuck in my mind ever since is how having rejected the bid, the matter was accepted by RD , and to their credit Man Utd, the player remaining with us without the type of public sulking you get nowadays, and agents, or Man U playing the saga out in the press.

 

Sad thing to look at is how his goal tally diminished over the last few years, due perhaps to age or injury after being constantly clobbered. Possibly also due to lifestyle, as I have heard from older relatives how he was partial to the drink, and a few "lock ins", sometimes even before a match.

 

Still, Ron remains one of our greatest ever players, and certainly merits his place on the banner.

[positivepete]

And fifty years ago since a lot of "glory seekers" on here saw their first Saints match at home to Man City, me included

[beowulf]

....that Saints signed the Norwich striker Ron Davies for a (then) club record fee of £55,000 and (just as Matt Le Tissier would 30 years later).. almost single-handedly kept Saints afloat in the top flight for half-a-dozen seasons with masses of goals. (Career total 153 in 277 games).

 

One Saints player (anonymous) said...£50,000? ...Can anyone be worth that much? Whilst Saints fans were asking themselves the same question,

the answer came quickly as Ron scored in his third League match...and then proceeded to equal a League record by scoring in 10 successive games.

It was easier to say ..when didn't he score?...as he netted a total of 37 League goals ..in 26 of that season's 42 matches)...and a few more in Cup games.

 

His first hat-trick came in January 1967, when he scored three times in an amazing 4-4 game at the Dell v. Leicester. He scored 3 again v Burnley in April and well and truly relegated Aston Villa in the last game of the season, when Saints slaughtered them 6-2 at The Dell....with Ron scoring 4 times, as well as having one goal disallowed and hitting the woodwork. By now, he had scored 50% ....of the 74 Saints' League goals that season.

Even that was just enough to help Saints avoid relegation and finish 19th in the 22 team League (as was) with a leaky defence that had conceded 92 times !

 

His scoring talent continued when he scored 9 times in the first 5 games the following season including 4 goals when Saints beat Chelsea 6-2 at Stamford Bridge, and managed 28 League goals in his second season. By now he had struck up a good scoring partnership with Martin Chivers, (who later moved onto Spurs,) but was later abley replaced by the young Mick Channon. As expected, by this time Ron had " been found out " and came in for some brutal treatment from a series of " no nonsense defenders " in some other clubs, who made no bones about " stopping him " before he got anywhere near goal.

 

Despite this Ron managed 20 League goals in his third season, but fans of that era will never forget his finest match, when in August 1969 Saints went to Old Trafford and beat Man Utd's best team ..(Best, Charlton and Law included) by 4-1 .....with Ron getting all four, in what was called winger John's Sydenham's finest match, when JS supplied Ron with a series of inch perfect crosses.

 

After that game United's manager Matt Busby called Ron "the finest centre forward in Europe", and (supposedly) bid a huge sum for Ron....which Saints refused. Despite injury Ron soldiered on ....and still managed 17 goals in season 1970-71, and 11 more in 1971-72.

He managed just 9 goals in 24 starts in 1972-73, but the spark had long gone, and subsequent moves to Portsmouth, and finally Man.Utd saw no improvement.

 

The secret of his success was due in no small measure to Saints' two wingers Terry Paine and John Sydenham who gave him excellent service in every game.

Ron's amazing ability to head a ball became a national talking point, a skill he developed as a youngster at Chester, when the club manager made him train ..... ....in heavy Army boots. By the time, he got to play games in lighter weight football boots, he could easily jump head and shoulders above most defenders.

Those who only talk about his remarkable heading ability, fail to remember that he also had two good feet, and could score well with either foot, and well as putting away a few skilfully-placed penalties.

 

Every generation has its own legends and it does no good to try and " compare them " to each other. Just as Charlie Wayman before him.... and the Channon and Le Tissier sagas would unfold in later years....Ron Davies still has a permanent place in Saints' history, and for " we oldies " .... firmly in our memories.

 

Excellent, Dave.Ron was one of the most powerful headers of a ball I have ever seen.

 

I remember seeing Ron,Channon and Chivers lining up to receive a corner from Terry Paine at the Dell, I think it was Chivers last game for us before he went to Spurs.Those were the days as they say.All British too, cant say that too often these days.

[rooney]

When Ron's name comes up, the picture in my mind is always of him leaping high above the defenders to head in a goal. That's how I remember him.

[david in sweden]

That's a good read David, thanks for posting it.

 

I was too young to see Ron's first few seasons with us, and by the time I was introduced to Saints, Ron Davies already had folklore status. My first season 1969/70 was in good time to take in his 4 goals at Man Utd though.

 

I remember the press speculation after that when Sir Matt Busby described Ron as the best Centre Forward in the world, and Man Utd were said to have offered a then record of £200,000 for him (I think the record at that time was still £100,000 for Alan Clarke), so seriously big money in its day. I can't remember if Ron submitted a transfer request on the back of their interest but Saints said "no". What has stuck in my mind ever since is how having rejected the bid, the matter was accepted by RD , and to their credit Man Utd, the player remaining with us without the type of public sulking you get nowadays, and agents, or Man U playing the saga out in the press.

 

Sad thing to look at is how his goal tally diminished over the last few years, due perhaps to age or injury after being constantly clobbered. Possibly also due to lifestyle, as I have heard from older relatives how he was partial to the drink, and a few "lock ins", sometimes even before a match.

 

Still, Ron remains one of our greatest ever players, and certainly merits his place on the banner.

 

 

I also remember Allan Clarke (was one of 4 brothers who all played League football) but I think the British record fee was still the £125,000 deal when Martin Chivers went to Spurs in January 1968......another case of us being ripped off by Spurs. Having settled the fee, Saints then agreed to take Frank Saul in part-ex valued at £45,000 (!)

 

Saul had been a Cup Final goalscorer for Spurs, but not one of the first team regulars and was immensely overvalued in the deal. His style wasn't suited to League football.

 

His contribution to Saints was far more sweat than goals. He played 60+ games netting just just 12 goals......10 of those in Cup games.

 

He was no match for the fast improving Mick Channon, and moved back to London just 2 years later....and Saints got little value for money from that deal.

[Norm]

David, thank you for posting this about Ron. He was a wonderful CF and I'm delighted to be able to say that I saw many of his superb performances, home and away. The best header of a ball I ever saw, without doubt!

[Give it to Ron]

My favourite goal of his was against Wolves we were one down where Eric had dropped it in from a corner.

Sydie out a cross from just in their half and Ron dive headed it in.....in my head it was way out but probably just in the box. Awesome player.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[John B]

And fifty years ago since a lot of "glory seekers" on here saw their first Saints match at home to Man City, me included

 

The 1966 Man City game was not but first game but I remember it well as there were loads of their fans with knuckle dusters causing trouble at the Milton Road End something we had never experienced before.

 

With regard to Ron he did score loads of goals but it was Paine and Sydenham who were key to his success

[david in sweden]

The 1966 Man City game was not but first game but I remember it well as there were loads of their fans with knuckle dusters causing trouble at the Milton Road End something we had never experienced before.

 

With regard to Ron he did score loads of goals but it was Paine and Sydenham who were key to his success

 

 

I think Ted Bates saw his potential, but Ron didn't have any real wing service at Norwich, and I remember thinking that he didn't have such a great scoring record there, but his heading ability came good when he got a stream of accurate crosses from Paine and Sydenham. Paine especially could practically hit his forehead with a centre.

 

A lot of people talked about his fantastic heading ability, but it wasn't always " power-headers ". He seemed to "hang in the air " when he timed his jumps and could "place the ball " almost anywhere with a superb accuracy of heading /direction ......but far post headers were his real masterpiece.

 

Occasionally people seemed amazed when he scored with his feet....but stats. showed he scored just as many with ground shots as with those magificent headers.

[spyinthesky]

David

 

Interesting point you make about Ron's prowess with his feet

 

I recollect (need to check though) that he hit a powerful right foot volley in the 6-2 win over Villa (last game of the season) which lodged in the stanchion at the Milton Road end.

 

I wonder how Ron would have coped these days.

 

At 6' he was a tall man in those days.

 

Someone like VVD would probably have negated his aerial ability.

 

Ironically one of the best defenders I saw play against Big Ron was Billy Baxter of Ipswich who was only about 5'9" tall but a great leaper.

 

All that said those of us lucky enough to see Big Ron play will always remember very fondly his time at the Dell.

 

I was also rather star struck some years later playing against Ron when he turned out as a centre half for Wessex Hotel in the Soton Sunday League

[Fan The Flames]

In the Big Match clip I love the talk of the new system 4 4 2.

[Lets B Avenue]

My favourite goal of his was against Wolves we were one down where Eric had dropped it in from a corner.

Sydie out a cross from just in their half and Ron dive headed it in.....in my head it was way out but probably just in the box. Awesome player.

 

 

 

See my avatar.

[david in sweden]

David. I wonder how Ron would have coped these days.

 

At 6' he was a tall man in those days. Someone like VVD would probably have negated his aerial ability.

 

 

Ah well..it was all down to nutrition. Remember we are talking about players who were born during World War 2, when there wasn't always a lot of food on the tables.

 

Those of us who recall the stories of George Kirby (another 6 footer) terrorising Notts. Forest's goalie Peter Grummit, recall that Grummit was around 5'9" (I think).

 

Saints goalie Tony Godfrey was (at one time) reckoned to be one of the shortest goalies in the League at 5' 8".

 

Times change and so too - diets. Today's players who are less than 6 foot are sometimes looked upon negatively, whereas it's not always the best measure of success.

 

There are quite a few good strikers/midfielders around who don't measure up to the " mystical " 6 foot mark.

[david in sweden]

In the Big Match clip I love the talk of the new system 4 4 2.

 

seems to me we are (almost) talking about ...the "new 4-4-2 " system again.

[VectisSaint]

I also remember Allan Clarke (was one of 4 brothers who all played League football) but I think the British record fee was still the £125,000 deal when Martin Chivers went to Spurs in January 1968......another case of us being ripped off by Spurs. Having settled the fee, Saints then agreed to take Frank Saul in part-ex valued at £45,000 (!)

 

Saul had been a Cup Final goalscorer for Spurs, but not one of the first team regulars and was immensely overvalued in the deal. His style wasn't suited to League football.

 

His contribution to Saints was far more sweat than goals. He played 60+ games netting just just 12 goals......10 of those in Cup games.

 

He was no match for the fast improving Mick Channon, and moved back to London just 2 years later....and Saints got little value for money from that deal.

Davies scored his 4 against Man Utd in August 1969. Sniffer Clarke joined Leicester from Fulham for 150k in June 1969 (then a year later joined Leeds for £165k). So at the time Big Ron scored his 4 the English Transfer record was £150k for Clarke. Chivers transfer was the biggest at the time (Jan 1968) but is usually not credited in the records because of the Frank Saul transfer, meaning only 80k actually changed hands.

Martin Chivers' last game was coincidentally my first, the 3-5 home defeat to Chelsea on 6th Jan 1968, stood in the Milton in the pouring rain. My football heroes as a young lad were formed that day, Big Ron and a young lad called Michael Channon (who seemed to fall over a lot). He sat with the Saints fans at Highbury a couple of seasons later after he broke his leg, still have my autographed copy of the match programme from that day somewhere.

[david in sweden]

Davies scored his 4 against Man Utd in August 1969. Sniffer Clarke joined Leicester from Fulham for 150k in June 1969 (then a year later joined Leeds for £165k). So at the time Big Ron scored his 4 the English Transfer record was £150k for Clarke. Chivers transfer was the biggest at the time (Jan 1968) but is usually not credited in the records because of the Frank Saul transfer, meaning only 80k actually changed hands.

 

Martin Chivers' last game was coincidentally my first, the 3-5 home defeat to Chelsea on 6th Jan 1968, stood in the Milton in the pouring rain. My football heroes as a young lad were formed that day, Big Ron and a young lad called Michael Channon (who seemed to fall over a lot).

 

 

.....doesn't he train horses to do that too...?

[Lets B Avenue]

Davies scored his 4 against Man Utd in August 1969. Sniffer Clarke joined Leicester from Fulham for 150k in June 1969 (then a year later joined Leeds for £165k). So at the time Big Ron scored his 4 the English Transfer record was £150k for Clarke. Chivers transfer was the biggest at the time (Jan 1968) but is usually not credited in the records because of the Frank Saul transfer, meaning only 80k actually changed hands.

Martin Chivers' last game was coincidentally my first, the 3-5 home defeat to Chelsea on 6th Jan 1968, stood in the Milton in the pouring rain. My football heroes as a young lad were formed that day, Big Ron and a young lad called Michael Channon (who seemed to fall over a lot). He sat with the Saints fans at Highbury a couple of seasons later after he broke his leg, still have my autographed copy of the match programme from that day somewhere.

 

Clarke joined Leicester in the summer of 1968, after Fulham had been relegated. He went on to play for Leicester in the 1969 FA Cup final against Man City and then went to Leeds.

 

Chivers was regarded as a British transfer record at the time, with or without "The King of Wonderland".