Sean Davis (footballer)

Sean Davis (born 20 September 1979) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Sean Davis
Personal information
Full name Sean Davis
Date of birth (1979-09-20) 20 September 1979
Place of birth Clapham, England[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
0000–1996 Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2004 Fulham 155 (14)
2004–2006 Tottenham Hotspur 15 (0)
2006–2009 Portsmouth 102 (2)
2009–2012 Bolton Wanderers 3 (0)
2012 → Bristol City (loan) 3 (0)
Total 278 (16)
National team
2000–2002 England U21 12 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He made his professional debut for Fulham in 1996 and went on to make over 150 league appearances for the club. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2004. In January 2006, he signed for Portsmouth, helping them avoid relegation and then win the FA Cup in 2008. He moved on a free transfer to Bolton Wanderers in 2009, and following a loan to Bristol City and relegation from the Premier League, retired in 2012. He was called up for England in 2003, but did not play.

Club career

Fulham

Born in Clapham, London, Davis attended Ernest Bevin College in Tooting.[3]

Davis is a product of the Fulham youth system. He is one of the few players in the world to have played at all four professional levels of football in England with the same club and is also the only Fulham player to achieve this.

He made his first-team debut for Fulham aged just 17 years and 25 days in 1996. Davis progressed under managers Keegan, Jean Tigana and later Chris Coleman. At the end of the 2002–03 season, Davis was named as the Player of the Season.[4]

He attracted interest from Everton[5] and Middlesbrough[6] during that season, more so after he had handed in a transfer request citing his "ambition to further his career".[7] However, Fulham were reluctant to sell Davis until they had found a suitable replacement. A transfer to either Everton or Middlesbrough never occurred as Davis was injured during the summer and unable to pass a medical to switch clubs, so this kept him at Fulham for the 2003–2004 season.[8][9] Davis sustained a knee injury in a pre-season friendly match against ASK Voitsberg[10][11] As a result of his sustained injury, his proposed move to Everton was broken down.[12]

After a month out injured, Davis made his return in the reserve match against Watford on 8 October 2003.[13] A month later, Davis had withdraw his transfer request, as he began dedicating to Fulham by starting a negotiations to sign a new contract.[14] In an exclusive interview with the club, Davis says his attempted move in the summer transfer window resulted fans was questioning his commitment with Fulham.[15] During his club career at Fulham, Davis is the only player in the Club's history to have represented Fulham in all four divisions.[16]

Tottenham Hotspur

After this, he signed for Tottenham Hotspur prior to the 2004–05 season. After starting early season games, injuries restricted his appearances.

Portsmouth

He was unable to break into the Tottenham team and was later bought by Harry Redknapp in the January 2006 transfer window in a combined deal estimated at £7 million which saw Davis and fellow Tottenham fringe players Pedro Mendes and Noé Pamarot sign for Portsmouth.[17] While arriving at the club short of match fitness, he played an important part in Portsmouth's 2006 survival campaign, including scoring the second goal in their 4–2 win over West Ham United on 18 March 2006.[18]

At the end of the 2005–06 campaign, Davis stated that Portsmouth supporters had yet to see his best form, and expected that after having taken part in a full pre-season, that he would be much more prepared to play a greater role in the coming season.[19]

Davis was part of Portsmouth's 2007–08 FA Cup-winning team. Despite not making the squad for the final[20] he appeared in the earlier rounds, including the semi final.[21]

On 1 February 2009, Portsmouth rejected a bid in the region of £3 million for Davis from Bolton Wanderers. Pompey manager Tony Adams was keen to secure the player to a new contract with his present deal due to run until the summer of 2009.[22]

Bolton Wanderers

On 1 July 2009, Bolton confirmed the signing of Davis on a free transfer on a three-year deal.[23] He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Sunderland on 15 August but made only three more appearances after two major injuries, his last appearance, against Liverpool on 29 August 2009, bringing him the first red card of the 2009-10 Premier League.[24] Davis played for the first time in 27 months on 13 December 2011 when playing the first 45 minutes for the reserve team in a 1–1 draw against Newcastle reserves.[25]

On 24 February 2012 Davis joined Bristol City on a one-month loan deal[26] and made his debut the day after in their 3–1 home defeat to Blackpool, picking up a booking. At the conclusion of the month he returned to Bolton after playing just three games and picking up another injury.

He was released at the end of the 2011–12 season following Bolton's relegation from the Premier League and announced his retirement from football on 25 September.[27]

International career

After a 2002–03 campaign in which he firmly established his position in the Fulham starting line up Davis was called up to be part of the England squad that faced Australia, although he did not play.[28]

Personal life

During his time at Portsmouth, due to influence from teammate Linvoy Primus and the Faith and Football organisation, Davis converted to Christianity.[29]

Since retiring, Davis has returned to Fulham as a columnist and commentator for their home matches.[30][31][32]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[33]
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fulham 1996–97 Third Division 1000000010
1997–98 Second Division 0000000000
1998–99 Second Division 6010200090
1999–2000 First Division 2602142—323
2000–01 First Division 4060041—447
2001–02 Premier League 3004030—370
2002–03 Premier League 283401012[lower-alpha 1]1454
2003–04 Premier League 2456100—306
Total 1551417214312119820
Tottenham Hotspur 2004–05 Premier League 1500010—160
2005–06 Premier League 00—10—10
Total 1500020—170
Portsmouth 2005–06 Premier League 17111——182
2006–07 Premier League 3101010—330
2007–08 Premier League 2202010—250
2008–09 Premier League 32120006[lower-alpha 2]0401
Total 10226120601163
Bolton Wanderers 2009–10 Premier League 300010—40
2010–11 Premier League 000000—00
2011–12 Premier League 000000—00
Total 300010—40
Bristol City (loan) 2011–12 Championship 30———30
Career total 2781623319318133823
  1. Eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Intertoto Cup, four in UEFA Cup
  2. Appearances in UEFA Cup

Honours

Fulham

Portsmouth

References
  1. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 433. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  2. "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  3. "Ernest Bevin's proud judo legacy". Sutton & Croydon Guardian. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  4. "Player of the Season". Fulham Official Website. 14 May 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  5. "Davis bid rejected". Fulham Official Website. 9 July 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  6. "Two offers for Davis". Fulham Official Website. 14 August 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  7. "Davis requests transfer". Fulham Official Website. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  8. "Sean Davis injury latest". Fulham Official Website. 29 July 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  9. "Davis set for knee scan". Fulham Official Website. 24 July 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  10. "Davis injured". Fulham Official Website. 23 July 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  11. "Voitsberg 1 - 4 Fulham". Fulham Official Website. 23 July 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  12. "Davis move officially off". Fulham Official Website. 26 August 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  13. "Davis returns". Fulham Official Website. 8 October 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  14. "Davis withdraws request". Fulham Official Website. 7 November 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  15. "Black and White Ambition". Fulham Official Website. 17 November 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  16. "FFC Legend: Sean Davis". Fulham Official Website. 13 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  17. "Portsmouth secure £7m Spurs trio". The Guardian. 12 January 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  18. "West Ham 2–4 Portsmouth". BBC. 18 March 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  19. "mysporttoday.co.uk". Archived from the original on 14 March 2007.
  20. "Portsmouth 1-0 Cardiff". BBC Sport. 17 May 2008.
  21. "Games played by Sean Davis in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  22. "Portsmouth reject bid for Davis". BBC Sport. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  23. "Bolton sign Davis from Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  24. Hughes, Ian (29 August 2009). "Bolton 2–3 Liverpool". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  25. "Reserves: Newcastle 1 Wanderers 1". bwfc.co.uk. 13 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  26. "McInnes joy at Davis deal". Sky Sports. 24 February 2012.
  27. "Former Fulham and Tottenham midfielder Sean Davis forced to retire". Sky Sports. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  28. "Aussies stun England". BBC. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  29. "Sean Davis | Ex Footballer". 15 June 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  30. "The Sean Davis Column". Fulham Official Website. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  31. "The Sean Davis Column". Fulham Official Website. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  32. "Jim's Co-Commentator - Fulham Football Club".
  33. Sean Davis at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  34. "Fulham clinch Euro glory". BBC Sport. 27 August 2002. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
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