Willie Davies was a short, but skilful winger, who was able to trick his way past many a tough defender, using his dribbling ability and a change of pace.
The son of Thomas Davies and Mary Hannah Davies, he had two older sisters - Mary and Catherine. William, known as Willie or sometimes Billy, was a noted player in his community and moved from minor clubs (including Rhymney where he scored 61 goals in a season) to Swansea Town quickly. Impressing at the South Wales club, playing all along the front line, before he stuck at outside right and he won international recognition by Wales in 1924, which precipitated a move to Cardiff City. His progress continued and he won another eight caps while with the Bluebirds, reaching a FA Cup final with them in 1925, but losing it to Sheffield United. Willie had scored directly from a corner kick in the last minute of the quarter final against Leicester City to win the match and help his team to Wembley.
Unfortunately Willie contracted a serious chest illness
soon after and missed more than a year for Cardiff,
including the teams FA Cup victory over Arsenal in 1927.
He came back into the side at the start of the 1927-28
season, but his next move saw him transfer to England
with Notts. County, where he won the last eight of his
remaining caps. It was from there that he was
spotted playing by Spurs, who moved for him in a £3,400
transfer to bring the Welshman to the Lane.
Willie's pace could take him into goal-scoring
positions, as well as take him past opposition full
backs, making him a useful player to have in the side.
His consistency and lack of injuries made him a regular
for Spurs missing only four out of 105 matches, but as
he got older, younger, more spritely wingers caught him
up and overtook him. John McCormick was the one
who replaced Willie, who appeared only 15 times as Spurs
were promoted in 1932-33.
After retiring from the game, Willie was in charge of
school caretaking in Pontarddulais.
Willie Davies died on 6th
August 1953 in Lllandiello, Carmarthensire, Wales