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Wyn Davies

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For the conductor, see Wyn Davies (conductor).

Wyn Davies
L to R: Bobby Charlton, Wyn Davies, Denis Law and George Best in training jerseys 1972
Personal information
Full name Ronald Wyn Davies
Date of birth (1942-03-20)20 March 1942
Place of birth Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales
Date of death 17 July 2025(2025-07-17) (aged 83)
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
?–1959 Locomotive Llanberis
1959–1960 Caernarfon Town
1960–1962 Wrexham 55 (21)
1962–1966 Bolton Wanderers 155 (66)
1966–1971 Newcastle United 181 (40)
1971–1972 Manchester City 45 (8)
1972–1973 Manchester United 16 (4)
1973–1975 Blackpool 36 (5)
1975 → Crystal Palace (loan) 3 (0)
1975–1976 Stockport County 30 (7)
1976–1978 Crewe Alexandra 55 (15)
1978–1979 Bangor City 4 (0)
1979 Cape Town City
Total 611 (179)
International career
1963–1973 Wales 34 (7)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ronald Wyn Davies (20 March 1942 – 17 July 2025) was a Welsh professional footballer who made over 550 Football League appearances in the 1960s and 1970s, and who was also capped by Wales.[1]

Club career

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Although he began his career with Wrexham, followed by a successful few seasons for Bolton Wanderers, Davies (nicknamed Wyn the Leap)[2] was perhaps best known for playing for Newcastle United between 1966 and 1971. He was notably part of their Inter-Cities Fairs Cup-winning team of 1969.[3] He later played for Manchester City, signing prior to the 1971–72 season for £60,000,[4][5] playing as City won the 1972 FA Charity Shield.[6] He then moved from Maine Road to Old Trafford when he was signed by Manchester United manager, Frank O'Farrell on 14 September 1972.[7] He was partnered with another O'Farrell signing, Ted MacDougall. Davies made his league debut for United on 23 September 1972 against champions Derby County at Old Trafford. He scored the opening goal for United in a 3–0 win.

Blackpool signed Davies for £14,000 on 14 June 1973, and he made his debut for the club on 25 August in a 2–2 draw against West Bromwich Albion, the opening League game of the season.[8]

On 30 June 1975, Blackpool granted him a free transfer and he joined Stockport County.[8] He also played for Crewe Alexandra, Bangor City before finishing his career with Cape Town City in South Africa.[9]

International career

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In total, Davies earned 34 caps and scored seven goals for Wales. [10] He made his Wales debut on 12 October 1963 at Ninian Park, Cardiff in the Home Championship in a 4–0 defeat by England.[10] On 3 October 1964, Davies scored his first international goal, in a 3–2 win against Scotland again at Ninian Park and in the Home Championship.[10] His last appearance came against Poland on 26 September 1973, a 3–0 defeat at the Stadion Śląski in Chorzów, Poland in a 1974 World Cup qualifying game.[10]

Personal life and death

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Davies was born in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales on 20 March 1942.[3] Following his retirement, Davies worked as a baker in Bolton. Davies died on 17 July 2025, at the age of 83.[9][11]

References

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  1. ^ Wyn Davies at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  2. ^ Pye, David. "THE BIG INTERVIEW: Wyn Davies". The Bolton News. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b Newcastle United F.C. "Wyn Davies". Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Wyn Davies". Daily Mirror. 16 February 1972. p. 26. Retrieved 26 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Efficiency". Liverpool Echo. 19 February 1972. p. 28. Retrieved 26 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "1972/73 Charity Shield". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  7. ^ "O'Farrell Buys". Daily Mirror. 15 September 1972. p. 30. Retrieved 26 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ a b Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-50-4.
  9. ^ a b BBC (17 July 2025). "Ex-Wales and Newcastle forward Davies dies aged 83". Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d "Wyn Davies - Wales". eu-football.info. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Wyn Davies obituary: Newcastle striker known as 'Wyn the Leap'". The Times. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.

Bibliography

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  • Barnes, Justyn; Bostock, Adam; Butler, Cliff; Ferguson, Jim; Meek, David; Mitten, Andy; Pilger, Sam; Taylor, Frank; Tyrrell, Tom (2001). The Official Manchester United Illustrated Encyclopedia. London: Manchester United Books. ISBN 0-233-99964-7.
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