Roger Davies is pictured above playing for Derby County during the 0-0
draw with Leeds United at The Baseball Ground 1924 -1997
Derby County signed Roger Davies from Southern League side Worcester City in September 1971.
The fee of £12,000 was, at the time, a record for a non league player moving to a league club.
With John O' Hare established as the teams first choice centre forward Davies initially played a
major role in the Rams Central League side which won the reserve championship in 1971/72.
His chance in the first team came in the penultimate game of the campaign - the second leg of the
final of the inagural Texaco Cup competion - and a headed goal alongside a penalty from Alan Hinton
giving Derby a 4-1 aggregate success over Airdrieonians. Although Roger started the 1972/73 season
again in reserves, he went on to make nineteen starts in the Football League and netted an impressive
seven goals, including a brace in the 3-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
It was, however, his performances in the FA Cup which cast him into the national spotlight. After earning the Rams a
4th round replay at White Hart Lane, Davies netted a remarkable hat-trick as the Rams came back
from 3-1 behind to crush Tottenham 5-3 a.e.t. in February 1973. The joy turned to despair, however,
within the space of a few weeks. Roger was dismissed for a headbut in the second leg of the European Cup
semi-final against Juventus - the Rams exiting the competition on a 3-1 aggregate to the physical Italian side
. Another ten goals came from thirty-seven appearances in 1973/74, the personal highlight being another
brace in 6-2 thrashing of Southampton at the Baseball Ground in September 1973. The following season,
under the management of Dave Mackay, the Rams came from the pack to win the Championship for the
second time in four years. Roger missed just three league matches and again grabbed the scoring headlines
against Luton Town on March 29th 1975. He netted all five goals in the Rams 5-0 victory - remarkably also
having another two efforts disallowed. It was the first time since Hughie Gallacher in 1934 that a Rams
player had scored five in a single game. He left Derby for a season in Belgium, then the USA and Leicester City
but returned in the 1979/80 season for his final season at The Baseball Ground.
Senior career
1968-1970 Bridgnorth Town ? (?)
1970-1971 Bedford Town ? (13)
1971 Worcester City 10 (7)
1971-1976 Derby County 114 (31)
1972 Preston North End (loan) 2 (0)
1976-1977 Club Bruges 34 (21)
1977-1979 Leicester City 26 (6)
1979 Tulsa Roughnecks 22 (8)
1979-1980 Derby County 22 (3)
1980-1982 Seattle Sounders 65 (32)
1980-1981 Seattle Sounders (indoor) 7 (9)
1983 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 18 (3)
1983 Burnley 0 (0)
1983-1984 Darlington 10 (1)
1984-86 Gresley Rovers 70 (11)
1986-87 Stapenhill ? (?)