William R. Davidson was a Scottish
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...
. His regular position was as a
half back. He played for
Annbank and
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
. When Davidson joined the team in 1893, Manchester United was still known as
Newton Heath Football Club and struggling to stay in
Football League First Division
The Football League First Division was the top division of the Football League in England from 1888 until the end of the 1991–92 season, when its teams broke away to form the Premier League. From 1992 to 2004, the name First Division was g ...
. Davidson kicked the winning goal in one of the team's few wins in the 1893–94 season, against
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club ( ), commonly referred to as Wolves, is a professional association football, football club based in Wolverhampton, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league s ...
on 11 November 1893. His final appearance was on 1 December 1894 against
Crewe Alexandra F.C., as a serious injury forced him to retire from playing football.
However, this was not the end of Davidson's relationship with Newton Heath or Manchester United. Davidson scouted
Alex Bell, then playing for
Ayr Parkhouse F.C., leading to Bell's transfer to Manchester United in January 1903. Bell appeared in 309 games for Manchester United, with two League titles and an FA Cup.
References
Manchester United F.C. players
Year of birth missing
Year of death missing
Scottish men's footballers
Men's association football midfielders
English Football League players
Annbank F.C. players
Scottish football scouts
19th-century Scottish sportsmen
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