Kelvin Davis has announced that his appearance in his testimonial next week will be his last ever game for the club after over 300 competitive appearances over his ten years.
Kelvin Davis is calling time on his Saints playing career after his testimonial game next Tuesday evening, speaking to the Daily Echo the 39 year old keeper said.
"I think as I sit here now I feel the time is right. I feel that it’s a road that was obviously always going to come to an end and I feel very proud of what’s been achieved and what’s happened in the time I’ve been at the club, the ups and the downs and my personal battles."
"At the very start I didn’t hit the ground running so to speak, and had my own hurdles to overcome."
"I think about some games where my performances weren’t up to my standard and times where I felt I was unfairly treated, particularly at Sheffield Wednesday away one afternoon."
"We came through that and my relationship with the fans and how my career turned around in those months, to go through that situation and come out and still be here to talk about it and playing and being involved with the club for ten years fills me with a lot of pride.”
Davis is right to make the comment about the way he turned the fans feelings towards him around, however the game at Sheffield Wednesday came a well into his second season with the club and the five goals conceded came only a month after Preston North End had scored the same amount past him, the comments he received were harsh but not unfair.
It is better now to put those dark days behind us and remember the good years that Kelvin had at the club rather than dredging up the bad times, Kelvin did change fans opinion of him and that should be what he lives in the memory for.
What the keeper will do next seems to be a little unclear, with his playing contract finished at St Mary's will he be looking to play for a lower league club where he could still do a job or will Saints offer him a coaching role ?
I'm sure Saints fans will hope that it is the latter and that he is retained in some capacity.
Davis is using the his testimonial to support the Liver and Pancreatic Cancer Research & Development Charity, who are based in Southampton.