The Great Ron Davies has died: Another Great Saint has gone "Marching In"

Shocking that there's nothing on here about the loss of the great Ron Davies. Anyone under the age of, what?, fifty??, could do themselves a favour by reading some appreciations of one of the great British strikers:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ron-davies-prolific-southampton-striker-hailed-by-matt-busby-as-the-best-centre-forward-in-europe-8638550.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/30/ron-davies-obituary

And learn more about him from Lawrence Donegan's feature:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jan/04/southampton-sportinterviews

It would be interesting to get a perspective from Mick Channon and/or Martin Chivers as to what Ron Davies meant to their Southampton careers, but can't find any proper player appreciations, but nice that he mentions Jimmy (great wing-half but hardly the Angel) Gabriel.

Can't find any Telegraph obit and only a very superficial effort on the BBC web-site, but that tells you more about those two institutions than it does about a truly great footballer - and don't take away from these articles that he was just a great header of the ball either, he had a silky grace on the ball when it was on the deck as well, but good to see that Terry Paine and John Sydenham get nice mentions.

Seemed like a very nice chap as well as a brilliant footballer!

R.I.P

some from norwich


http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich_city_legend_ron_davies_dies_1_2215001

http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/tribute-to-former-striker-davies-840231.aspx

http://www.pinkun.com/home/he_was_probably_the_best_centre_forward_we_had_norwich_city_legends_pay_tribute_to_former_canary_ron_davies_who_has_died_aged_70_1_2215323

ncfc,
That's a very fitting pinkun tribute, Thanks.

R.I.P

"No forward has scored more First Division (top tier) goals for Saints than Ron Davies and for a spell, whilst he was at the Dell he was justly regarded as the finest centre-forward in Europe." - Saints, A Complete Record of Southampton Football Club 1885 - 1987 by Gary Chalk and Duncan Holley.

Kwini - apologies, missed this thread when it was first posted and only learned of this sad news yesterday.  A highly respected player of the 1960s into the 1970s and rightly so. Devastating in the air and, as you suggest, under rated on the deck.  He would have been even more effective in today's game with the additional protection given against reckless and deliberate foul tackles which he regularly endured without complaint.

Kwini - doubt you'll get to see tonight's BBC Sports Personality of the Year programme in Vermont, so I thought you would like to know that its photo tribute to those ''we have loved, admired and lost this year'' included Ron Davies.

In your wholly deserved words of this thread's title:
The Great Ron Davies.

guildford,
For some reason I DID see that!
Funny old choices made though, Dave Hickson (pleased to see him recognized) and Greenhoff chosen but no Peter Broadbent, Dave Thomas but no Bernard Hunt.

Watched the Saints today and am impressed every time I see Adam Lallana; and Chambers looks another good find.

Kwini - glad you saw it.

Hickson was just before my time (at least of watching the game) but from my recent reading was a worthy inclusion. You're right about Broadbent though. Strange.

I'm sure the Great Ron would approve of the Saints today. A good and well organised side with - much like him - some skill and heart.

True enough, this Saints team looks the real thing, tho' perhaps a little insecure at the back still.
Love the fact that so many players in the squad are home grown, incredibly impressed with Lallana - he'd be the first name after Rooney on the England team sheet for me.