Eugene "Pooch" Davis (17 October 1953 – 14 June 2024) was an Irish footballer who played for several clubs, most notably Athlone Town with whom he won the League of Ireland title in 1981.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 October 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 15 June 2024 (aged 70) | ||
| Place of death | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1965–1972 | St Joseph's | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1972–1974 | Shamrock Rovers | ||
| 1974–1982 | Athlone Town | ||
| 1982–1985 | St Patrick's Athletic | ||
| 1985 | UCD | ||
| 1985–1986 | Bohemians | ||
| 1986–1989 | Bray Wanderers | 44 | (13) |
| Total | (130) | ||
| International career | |||
| 1971–1972 | Republic of Ireland U19 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editDavis began his football career with local side St Joseph's in Sallynoggin, lining out from under-12 up to the club's youth team. He was signed for League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers under Liam Tuohy in 1972.[2] He scored his first goal for The Hoops in the League of Ireland Shield but a wage dispute over bonuses for the League of Ireland Cup in August 1974 resulted in Davis joining Athlone Town after being released by Rovers.
He was a regular scorer for Athlone over the following six seasons, hitting a total of 49 league goals between 1974 and 1980.[3] Davis was the league's top scorer with 23 goals during Athlone's League of Ireland-winning 1980–81 season.[4][5][6] He scored twice against Vålerenga Fotball in the 1975–76 UEFA Cup to advance to play AC Milan [7]
Davis moved to St Patrick's Athletic in 1982, scoring 13 league goals in his debut season. A three-month with UCD was followed by an 18-month tenure with Bohemians. Davis brought his career to an end with Bray Wanderers in 1989 scoring 19 goals in 66 total appearances.[8] [9]
Davis scored a total of 130 League of Ireland goals [10]
International career
editA teammate of Liam Brady Davis' goals against Iceland helped Ireland qualify for the 1972 UEFA European Under-18 Championship, where they played England, Yugoslavia and Belgium [11]
Death
editDavis died on 14 June 2024, at the age of 70.[12]
Honours
editAthlone Town
- League of Ireland: 1980–81
- League of Ireland Cup: 1979–80, 1981–82
- Tyler Cup: 1979–80
References
edit- ^ "Cobh Ramblers best players of all time are revealed". Echo Live. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Obituary: Eugene 'Pooch' Davis, League of Ireland great whose goalscoring talent won him widespread acclaim". Irish Independent. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Athlone Town". RTÉ Sport. 31 March 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Club history". Athlone Town AFC website. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Myler secures place in Town's history books". Irish Independent. 31 March 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "It came on BBC News: In Ireland today, a team of postmen, butchers and bakers drew 0-0 with AC Milan". The 42. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/64613--athlone-vs-valerenga/
- ^ "Flashback: When Dave Barry inspired Cork City past Bray and into their first FAI Cup final". Echo Live. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ https://www.braywanderersfc.ie/_webedit/uploaded-files/All%20Files/Stats%20pdfs/BW%20Goalscorers%201985-2023.pdf
- ^ https://rsssf.org/tablesi/iertops.html
- ^ https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/obituary-eugene-pooch-davis-league-of-ireland-great-whose-goalscoring-talent-won-him-widespread-acclaim/a762438360.html
- ^ "Athlone Town lead tributes to Eugene Davis". RTÉ Sport. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- Sources
- The Hoops by Paul Doolan and Robert Goggins (ISBN 0-7171-2121-6)