About 4 or 5 years back I was exchanging opinions with friends on the ex-Saints striker Ron Davies. During the conversation, someone asked of where he was currently living. Then one of the guys mentioned that he'd spoken to John Sydenham, who'd said that he had lost touch with Ron, over the years. So we started a search for the great man. After about a couple of months of Internet tracking, and cross referencing addresses, we managed to come up with his last known whereabouts, in Florida. After an initial enthusiasm, it all died down. Sadly, it looked as though we had to let it go, but then former Echo journalist Jeremy Wilson heard of our efforts and became involved. Using our data, he was able to do the rest of the tracking and traced Ron to an RV [recreational vehicle] Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ron had gone there for his health, and simply because it was cheaper to live there. He and his wife Chris lived a simple, but enjoyable life in the semi-desert sun. Jeremy Wilson replied that he'd spoken to Ron about a book he was then doing [Saints Cult Heroes] and that although Ron was a very private man, by then, knowing little of what had been happening to Saints, he'd cooperated with Jeremy. We tried to get in touch with Ron, ourselves, as we'd so much we wanted to ask him, but he wanted his privacy. However, through Jeremy Wilson, we were made aware that Ron and Chris were living in very much reduced circumstances, and that his health was suffering badly, with both his hips needing almost virtually instant replacement. We decided to see if we could drum up some support, and lo and behold, someone got in touch with me. Together we, along with another recruited volunteer, set up a charity for Ron, named in honour of that old Saints crowd chant, GIVE IT TO RON ON HIS HEAD, where we hoped to help get his hips replaced, and aid him towards a better retirement. To cut a long story short, Ron got his hips replaced easily by some really clever help through a Saints fan living in LA, and by having well over £13,000, and probably a fair bit more, [I actually can't remember the real total as some was spent before it all came in] donated by Saints fans, plus he got a completely new set of teeth, paid for by an anonymous donor. Sadly, while all this was going on, Chris died of cancer, and she'd purposely kept it from us and the worst from Ron himself, believing our attention should be for Ron only. If we'd known, we'd have pulled out all the stops for her too. Ron was distraught, but after several months of healing and support, he did recover and began to smile again. Finally, when we'd realised our work was done, we closed the charity, leaving the website as a reminder. We were able to transfer the remaining funds to Ron's account, leaving him comfortably off in his retirement. I'd like to say thank you to all those who donated and have commented about Ron Davies. We were able to send hundreds of personal letters and photographs, that came along with the generous donations, from far and wide. Some were from Southampton, some from Norwich and Chester. One or two were from far flung corners of the World. He was my boyhood footballing hero and he was yours too. Just the other day, I mentioned about fluffing some lines while waiting in-line for MLT to sign his name for me. I had the opportunity to write to Ron while we were running the charity, and I had to write and re-write the damn letter, as I was fluffing those sentences too. Thank goodness for computers, as otherwise I'd have gone through reams of paper. Ron wasn't just a hero – he was The Man; the best forward in Europe. Ron & Chris wrote me a touching little note back, thanking all the Saints fans for their generosity and spirit. Although we passed the sentiment on at the time, I'll repeat it here. He does know Saints fans care. Anyway, a few promised pics. Ron as he is today with new gnashers, and as we remember him in action:
Thanks TSS of reminding me what a great player Ron was, on his day he was unbeatable in the air. In those days Saints always played with two good wingers so the ammunition was always there. John Sydneham and then Tommy Jenkings on the left and another legend on the right in Terry Paine. Ron gave me one of my best away days ever, it was about 1969/70 Man Utd 1 Saints 4 and Ron scored all four with headers. Traveled home in a daze at what we had just witnessed. What a Legend.
Ron Davies. My most favourite ex Saint of all time. A footballer extraordinaire and a gifted cartoonist. If I met him today I would give him a big hug. He was as important if not more important to Saints as Matty and we all love him as well. I have to say to young fans you were as privileged to see Matty as I was privileged to see Ron Davies.
Thanks TSS for the proof, watched it twice. Memory is not what it used to be. What a gentleman Ron is , LEGEND.
My Dad tells me how good he was. I have always known about him, bit as I started watching in 1975, I sadly missed him.
What a delight you missed. Ron was my first football hero and there haven't been many. Mike Channon, Steve Mills, Steve Williams and of course Matthew Le Tissier are the only Saints players I would put alongside him.
Steve Mills was going to be oh so very good it was a tragedy his career ended so early. The nice thing about the old Dell was that you could often hear the players talking to each other. I remember a game when Kenny Sansom played and he was taking the piss out of one of young players saying "How many International Caps have you got then son?" Mike Channon was nearby and said "And how many of yours still fit that big head Kenny?"
Seeing how we're bereft of decent football this weekend [ I'll probably look out for the Bournemouth result] how about a little quiz for people to identify teams and players in the photographs I'll put up. They all involve Ron Davies. See how you do. Don't worry, I know the answers. Don't expect me to answer quickly as I'm off up the wooden hill, cause I've just looked at the time. But I'll be back sometime this morning. Anyway, here's the first one. Notice Ron has been colourised. It's something I occasionally do, as in the action picture at the start of the thread. So, who are the players with Ron, and which is the team Saints are playing, and where..?
Tottenham and Mike England is the defender. The other player is a very young Mike Channon. Love the photograph.
Note how many of the crowd are wearing ties. Straight from the office on a Saturday. Fast forward a few short years and, most likely, there would be instead, tank tops with stars on them, impossibly wide flared jeans and boat shoes.
Thanks should be with you SecondStain - thanks for supplying a great story and some nice photos of the great man himself. Ron is a true club legend and one that shall never be forgotten. On another note - when there are threads being created like these, it makes being a part of this forum all that bit extra special.
And of course, White Hart Lane being the venue. I believe Saints won this particular game, 1-0 with Davies scoring. Note the chopped up playing surface. Sand everywhere. Almost Stamford Bridge like. Another one along soon.
Ron Davis was without doubt the best header of football i have ever seen. as SaintMick said we had wingers like Syders and Jenkins and proably one of the best crossers of a ball Terry Paine. He could cross balls by practicing to run them along the crossbar. I was fortunate to play against big Ron twice and although you didnt want to mark him to close as he did like a tipple he had so much skill in killing and a ball and little flicks and touched that people forgot about due to his extrodinary ability to rise above everyone.
OK, here's one of Ron and two other famous footballers. It might seem obvious, but lets have the two teams involved, the other two players, and perhaps you can guess where the match is being played, i.e. the name of the stadium. Click on the photo to enlarge. Cheers
Good point. Also, I think dress sense, in those days, was a lot more formal. Going to football was like going to a good restaurant, or a show. You took the trouble to 'get ready'.
Not many women either. Mrs Godders s keen on sport and she is Welsh so you can imagine what I have had to put up with all day.
