TOP-FLIGHT JACKS: Dai Davies
In our new website feature, we focus on players who featured for Swansea City during the club's previous foray into the top flight of English football.
Here, we put the spotlight on former goalkeeper Dai Davies.
DAI DAVIES
Date of birth: April 1, 1948.
Appearances/goals for the Swans: 113.
Former clubs: Swansea City (1969-1970); Everton (1970-1977); Swansea City - loan (1974); Wrexham (1977-1981); Swansea City (1981-1983); Tranmere Rovers (1983-1984); Bangor (1985); Wrexham (1986).
Memorable moment: Against Scotland at the Vetch Field in May 1981, Davies broke Jack Kelsey's record for most number of international caps for Wales. The goalkeeper eventually finished his career having represented Wales on a total of 52 occasions.
Did you know? Davies is also a Druid, having been initiated into the Welsh Gorsedd of Bards in 1978.
Born in Ammanford, Dai Davies excelled as a schoolboy goalkeeper, playing as a youth for Ammanford United and Ammanford Town.
Upon leaving school, he attended Cardiff College of Education to train to become a PE teacher, while still playing for Ammanford, where his manager was former Swansea Town player Roy Saunders.
It was Saunders who recognised the potential in Davies, who, after qualifying as a teacher, had trials at the Vetch Field before manager Roy Bentley signed him on a full-time contract.
The first year at the Vetch Field saw Bentley put together a side that was pushing for promotion throughout the season, with Welsh International goalkeeper Tony Millington a regular between the sticks as the Swans finally guaranteed promotion with a couple of games of the season left to play.
With promotion assured, Swansea's final away match of the season against champions Chesterfield saw Bentley hand Davies his first-team debut. The Welsh shot stopper produced an impressive display to keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 stalemate, displaying the potential that his former manager Saunders saw in him.
An injury to first choice goalkeeper Millington the following season offered Davies an opportunity to stake his claim for a first-team place, which he duly delivered.
Having cemented his place as a Swans regular, Davies' good form also earned him a starting spot in the Wales Under-21 side.
In 1970, just over a year after joining the Swans, Davies signed for Everton after the Football League champions had a £40,000 bid accepted for his services. And by 1975, Davies had achieved his lifetime ambition of representing his country at senior level.
But his time with Everton saw him enjoy mixed fortunes as he struggled to make the first-team on a consistent basis, which eventually led to Davies returning to the Vetch Field on loan in 1974.
With his confidence restored under the guidance of former Swans goalkeeping manager Harry Gregg, Davies returned to Everton a better 'keeper before departing for Wrexham in 1977.
He enjoyed the most successful spell of his career during his stay with the Red Dragons, winning the Third Division championship, the Welsh Cup and, with it, playing in Europe the following season.
His time in North Wales was a particularly happy one for Davies, but when the opportunity to join the Swans in the First Division came along in 1981, he joined the club for a third stint.
The choice of Davies ahead of regular first choice goalkeeper Dave Stewart was, initially, difficult for some supporters to comprehend, but Dai's inclusion was quickly proven a smart decision.
Davies' two seasons as Swans 'keeper in the top flight saw him collect a further two Welsh Cup winners' medals before he left to join Tranmere Rovers for a brief spell in 1983.
But for a couple of appearances for Bangor in 1985 and Wrexham in 1986, as an emergency goalkeeper during their time in Europe, Davies' playing days were over.
Upon his retirement from football, he moved into media, working on TV and radio for S4C. Alongside his media work, he also runs a natural health healing centre in Llangollen, specialising in herbal remedies and remedial massage.
