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When Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison were rebuilding Manchester City
during the 1965/66 season, they had their eyes on two players in
particular. One was a young midfielder playing at Bury by the name of
Colin Bell; the other was a Welsh under 23 international centre-forward,
at the time leading the attack for Bolton Wanderers. His name was Wyn
Davies. Unfortunately money was in short supply at Maine Road back then
and the club could only afford one player. They chose Colin Bell.
Caernarfon born Ronald Wyn Davies, one of the most powerful headers of a
ball ever to appear in English football would have to wait until August
1971 before finally signing for City, a £52, 500 capture from Newcastle
United five months after his 29th birthday. At Maine Road in readiness
for the start of the 1971/72 season, Davies once again joined forces
with a man well known to him from his days at Bolton.
That man was
Francis Lee and little could either have predicted what a lucrative - if
short-lived - partnership they would once again forge, this time in the
colours of Manchester City. Following Davies' debut on the opening day
in a 1-0 Maine Road defeat by Leeds, he missed just two of the 42 League
games all season. His first goal came four days after that opening day
setback when Crystal Palace were brushed aside 4-0. Davies' style of
play was in marked contrast to that of Lee's more attack and direct
route to goal. The two worked so well together that Franny would
eventually score 35 goals that term including a record-breaking 13
League penalties. City finished the season in fourth place behind
Champions Derby County and the arrival of Rodney Marsh in March 1972
appeared to be the catalyst for further improvement next time out.
Unfortunately for Davies, Malcolm Allison preferred the flamboyant Marsh
leading his attack than the giant Welshman who found himself
surprisingly sold to neighbours United after just three League games of
the 1972/73 season. This was after he'd been sent off at Anfield on the
opening day! After Old Trafford, Davies played for Blackpool, Crystal
Palace and Stockport County before finishing his career at Crewe.
Following his retirement from the game he became a baker in Bolton. (Ian Penney - author of the Legends of Manchester City)
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