For Saints fans over 55 their can be no question of who is the greatest centre forward for Saints, however younger supporters may differ not having had the chance to see him so here is something to educate them.

Ronald Tudor Davies arrived at Saints for a club record fee of £55,000 as Ted Bates started to prepare for the Club's inaugural season in the top flight and it soon proved to be money well spent as the Welshman made sure that Saints would not be one season wonders hitting or heading 37 goals in 41 games to top the first division scoring charts, he topped it again the following term with 28 goals as 40 to become the hottest property in English football and Ted Bates was soon rebuffing all moves from bigger clubs to take him off of his hands.

1968/69 saw less goals all round in the top flight so 20 goals for Ron was a decent tally especially when you consider Saints only hit 57 in finishing 7th. 69/70 saw Ron injured and struggling to find his form, the season had started well with that famous four goal blast at Old Trafford after which Sir Matt Busby described him as the finest centre forward in Europe, but only 12 goals in 29 games was disappointing, however it has to be said that the style of the game was changing, Davies relied on the crossing of wingers Terry Paine and John Sydenham, the latter of whom after supplying three of those goals at United, would soon play his last game with Paine reverting to a style of play that relied less on wing play and more on guile, the game had changed and it didn't suit Ron as much as it used to.

But that didn't mean that his ability to score goals and help the team win games diminished completely, in 1970/71 he still played 40 games and 17 goals was only one behind Mick Channon, it just meant that the goals were spread out a bit more and Ron adapted magnificently

1971/72 would see Saints struggle but 12 goals from Ron was reasonable, however it would be his last full season at the Club and in 72/73 after 24(1) games and a not inconsiderable 9 goals he left for Portsmouth, the writing was on the wall for Ron the game was changing, Saints didn't have any wingers and Ted Bates had signed Paul Gilchrist in readiness for his departure, in Ted's defence Ron had hit 30 years of age and back then that was old with few footballers in the top flight going much past that watershed then.

But Ron hadn't scored his last goal at the Dell, sadly though he would score for Pompey in the derby match of 74/75 after Saints had been relegated to join Pompey in the old division 2, Ron equalised from the spot after being hauled down by Paul Bennett, luckily for us Peter Osgood who was now wearing Ron's number 9 shirt would score his second with ten minutes to go to win the game for Saints.

In total Ron played 239(1) league games for Saints scoring a phenomenal 134 goals, as mentioned in the last episode that's not quite as good as Martin Chivers goal a game record for Saints, but Ron scored all his for the club in the top flight and unquestionably had more to his game than scoring goals with his ability to win headers and create chances for others.

In addition to league games he played 19(1) in the FA Cup with 9 goals, 13 with 6 goals in the League Cup and 6(2) in Europe with 4 goals.

It is not for me to judge, but although there are many who can claim to have made a big contribution to the club, perhaps Ron's claim is a lot bigger than some would think.

Photo: Action Images

redblooded added 13:50 - Nov 15 Big Ron, a total legend, and a real out and out striker, his centre forward ability was unrivalled, I can only say that SRL, is the only one who comes close to being in the same mould, which is saying something when you consider the way the game has changed and the speed it played at. Big Ron gets my vote!
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