Will Davidson

{{short description|Scottish footballer}} {{distinguish|Will Davison}} {{for|the Falkirk and Everton player|William Davidson (Scottish footballer)}} {{Use British English|date=April 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox football biography |embed = |name = William R. Davidson |image = |image_size = |alt = |caption = |fullname = |birth_date = |birth_place = Scotland |height = |position = Half back |years1 = 1893–1895 |clubs1 = Newton Heath |caps1 = 41 |goals1 = 2 |nationalyears1 = |nationalteam1 = |nationalcaps1 = |nationalgoals1 = |club-update = }} '''William R. Davidson''' was a Scottish footballer. His regular position was as a half back. He played for Annbank and Manchester United.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Graham|first1=Mark|title=William Davidson - Manchester United Player Profile & Stats|url=http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/a-z_player_archive/a-z_player_archive_pages/davidson_william.html|website=MUFCInfo.com|accessdate=1 June 2017}}</ref> When Davidson joined the team in 1893, Manchester United was still known as Newton Heath Football Club and struggling to stay in Football League First Division.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Barnes, Justyn|author2=Bostock, Adam|author3=Butler, Cliff|author4=Ferguson, Jim|author5=Meek, David|author6=Mitten, Andy|author7=Pilger, Sam|author8=Taylor, Frank|author9=Tyrrell, Tom|title=The official Manchester United illustrated encyclopedia.|date=2001|publisher=Manchester United Books|location=London|isbn=0-233-99964-7|edition=New|page=8}}</ref> Davidson kicked the winning goal in one of the team's few wins in the 1893–94 season, against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 11 November 1893.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Graham|first1=Mark|title=Manchester United 1 v 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers, League Division One Matchday 11, 11th November 1893, Season 1893-1894, Venue:Bank Street|url=http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/match_data/match_sql.php?my_match_date=1893-11-11|website=MUFCinfo.com|accessdate=2 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Newton Heath v Wolverhampton Wanderers, 11 November 1893|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/newton-heath-v-wolverhampton-wanderers-11-november-1893-53330/|website=11v11.com|publisher=AFS Enterprises Limited|accessdate=2 June 2017}}</ref> His final appearance was on 1 December 1894 against Crewe Alexandra F.C.,<ref>{{cite web|title=Crewe Alexandra v Newton Heath, 01 December 1894|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/crewe-alexandra-v-newton-heath-01-december-1894-91019/|website=11v11.com|publisher=AFS Enterprises Limited|accessdate=2 June 2017}}</ref> as a serious injury forced him to retire from playing football.<ref>{{cite web|title=William R Davidson|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/william-r-davidson-44517/|website=11v11.com|publisher=AFS Enterprises Limited|accessdate=2 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Alan Shury and Brian Landamore; with assistance from Allan Kristensen and Tony|title=The definitive Newton Heath : Manchester United to 1902|date=2002|publisher=SoccerData Publication|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-899468161|page=65}}</ref>

However, this was not the end of Davidson's relationship with Newton Heath or Manchester United. Davidson scouted Alex Bell, then playing for Ayr Parkhouse F.C., leading to Bell's transfer to Manchester United in January 1903. Bell appeared in 309 games for Manchester United,<ref>{{cite web|title=THE WEBSITE OF DREAMS|url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/bell.html|website=www.stretfordend.co.uk|accessdate=2 June 2017|publisher=Barn End Media|language=en}}</ref> with two League titles and an FA Cup.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alex Bell|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/alex-bell-43548/|website=11v11.com|publisher=AFS Enterprises Limited|accessdate=2 June 2017}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davidson, Will}} Category:Manchester United F.C. players Category:Year of birth missing Category:Year of death missing Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:English Football League players Category:Annbank F.C. players Category:Scottish football scouts Category:19th-century Scottish sportsmen