Len Davies

:"For the wrestling promoter, see Len Davies (wrestling promoter)"Infobox Football biography
playername = Len Davies


fullname = Leonard Stephen Davies
dateofbirth = April 28, 1899
cityofbirth = Splott, Cardiff
countryofbirth = Wales
dateofdeath = 1945
cityofdeath = Prescot
countryofdeath = England
height =
position = Forward
youthyears =
youthclubs = Victoria Athletic
years = 1920-1931
1931-1932
1932-1935
clubs = Cardiff City
Thames
Bangor City
caps(goals) = 305 (128)
027 0(12)
nationalyears = 1922-1930
nationalteam = Wales
nationalcaps(goals) = 022 0(6)
manageryears = 1932-1935
managerclubs = Bangor City

Len Davies (April 28, 1899 - 1945) was a Welsh professional footballer. Davies, born in the Splott district of Cardiff, remains the record career goalscorer for Cardiff City. His involvement with the club coincided with their greatest period, a term in which Cardiff consolidated their position in the First Division and in which they regularly did well in the FA Cup. He represented Wales at international level.

Davies began his career with Victoria Athletic before joining Cardiff City, playing for Cardiff in their first ever season in the Football League. He scored 17 times in the 1921-22 season, including Cardiff's first hat-trick in the Football League (January 21, 1922 v Bradford City in a 6-3 victory). Davies' debut for Wales came on March 13, 1922 (in a 1-0 defeat against England at Anfield).

Davies scored 19 league goals the following season, with 23 in 1923-24 and 19 in 1924-25, going on to score 128 goals for the Bluebirds in 305 league matches for the club (115 in the First Division between 1921 and 1928) Unfortunately, Davies' place in history is for his part in the closest League Championship finish in history. On the final day of the 1923-24 season with Cardiff City needing to win to take the title, Davies missed a penalty kick at Birmingham ensuring that Herbert Chapman's Huddersfield Town won the title by 0.024 of a goal.

Davies played in the 1925 FA Cup final defeat against Sheffield United and in 1927 was part of the Cardiff side that beat Arsenal to take the FA Cup out of England for the first, and so far, only time.

Davies played 22 times for the Welsh national side, scoring six times and helping Wales to Home Championship titles in 1924 and 1928. His last game for Wales came in 1930 against Scotland.

Davies left Cardiff in 1931, joining Thames. Thames finished bottom of the Third Division South in the 1931-32 season and the club was wound up at the end of the season. Davies became manager of Bangor City for the 1932-33 season, staying with the club until 1935. He eventually became a school sports coach at Mostyn House School, Parkgate. He died of pneumonia in Prescot in 1945.

Honours

As a player

;Cardiff City

*FA Cup winner - 1927
*FA Community Shield winner - 1927