Kelvin Davis (footballer)

Kelvin Davis

Personal information
Full name	Kelvin Geoffrey Davis [1]
Date of birth	(1976-09-29) 29 September 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth	Bedford, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Eastleigh (manager)
Youth career
1991–1994	Luton Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1999	Luton Town	91	(0)
1994	→ Torquay United (loan)	2	(0)
1997	→ Hartlepool United (loan)	2	(0)
1999–2003	Wimbledon	131	(0)
2003–2005	Ipswich Town	88	(0)
2005–2006	Sunderland	33	(0)
2006–2016	Southampton	271	(0)
Total		618	(0)
International career
1995–1996	England U21	3	(0)
Managerial career
2018	Southampton (caretaker)
2024–	Eastleigh
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kelvin Geoffrey Davis (born 29 September 1976) is an English professional football manager and former footballer who is the manager of National League club Eastleigh.

Davis played as a goalkeeper. He began his career with Luton Town as a youth player in 1991 and remained there until 1999. Davis later played for Wimbledon, Ipswich Town and Sunderland before moving to Southampton in 2006.

Davis was team captain of Southampton from 2009 to 2012, after which he became club captain. ^[2] From July 2016 to December 2017, Davis had been working as part of the support staff at Southampton. On 29 December 2017, Davis became Senior First Team coach following the resignation of Eric Black the previous week until parting ways with Southampton in 2022. ^[3]

Club career

Early career

Davis was born in Bedford, Bedfordshire and started his career as a trainee with Luton Town, turning professional in July 1994. He joined Torquay United on loan in September 1994 as cover for the injured Ashley Bayes, making his debut in the 3–3 draw at home to Colchester United on 17 September. ^[4] He also played in the 2–1 defeat at home to Barnet the following week before returning to Luton. He had a further loan spell, with Hartlepool United in August 1997. He joined Wimbledon in July 1999 for a fee of £600,000.

Ipswich Town

Davis joined Ipswich Town on a free transfer in July 2003, ^[5] He quickly became the first-choice goalkeeper at Ipswich, making 45 appearances during his first season at the club. He kept his place in the team the following season. His form during the season earned him a place of the 2004–05 PFA Championship Team of the Year, ^[6] whilst also helping steer Ipswich to third in the table. ^[7]

Sunderland

Davis joined Sunderland in June 2005 for a fee of £1.25 million, ^[8] and played in most of their Premier League games in the 2005–06 season, as Sunderland were relegated.

Southampton

In an attempt to rebuild his career after his difficult spell at Sunderland, Davis joined Southampton in July 2006 for a fee reported to be around £2 million. He linked up with former goalkeeping coach Malcolm Webster, who coached him during his spell at Ipswich. At Southampton, he was first choice goalkeeper for most of the 2006–07 season until a three-match ban relegated him to the bench where he remained after the return of Bartosz Białkowski. He was suspended for three games after kicking out at Stoke City's striker Jon Parkin on 10 March 2007. ^[9]

His form for Saints in the first half of the 2008–09 season was impressive, despite the club's poor form. Southampton fans voted Davis player of the month three times in the first five months of the season on the club's official website.^{[ citation needed ]}

On 9 July 2009, Davis turned down the opportunity to sign for then Premier League side West Ham United, instead signing a new three-year contract with Southampton which meant that he would remain at Southampton until May 2012. ^[10] On 8 August 2009, he saved an Alan Dunne penalty in a 1–1 draw with Millwall. ^[11] He was voted in the League one PFA team of year in 2009–10 season after a string of outstanding performances. He was again named in the League One Team of the Year for the 2010–11 season.^{[ citation needed ]} On 23 November 2010, he saved a Chris Wood penalty in a 0–0 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. ^[12]

On 28 July 2011, Davis signed a new deal with Saints to keep him at the club until 2014. ^[13] On 3 March 2012, Kelvin Davis put in a superb performance between the sticks against a rampant Leeds United to help secure a clean sheet, and one-nil win, for Southampton against the Yorkshire club at Elland Road. ^[14] The performance earned the 35-year-old a place in the Championship Team of the Week. ^[15]

He was named in the Championship Team of the Year for the 2011–12 season, meaning he had been named in a team of the year for three consecutive years.^{[ citation needed ]} He saved a David Silva penalty on the opening day of the 2012–13 season against Manchester City, but this could not help the club from being beaten 3–2. ^[16] He saved a Robin van Persie penalty in a game against Manchester United, but once again the club were beaten 3–2. ^[17]

On 7 March 2013, Davis signed a new contract with Southampton, keeping him at the club until 2016. ^[18]

He made his 300th appearance for the club on the final day of the 2014–15 season. ^[19]

Testimonial

On 17 May 2016, a special testimonial match in recognition of his 10 years' service to Southampton was held in his honour. The fixture organised by Davis's testimonial committee was played two days after the close of the 2015–16 season and featured the current Saints side and a selection of players that took part in the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons in which Southampton won back-to-back promotions. His favoured charity, the Southampton-based Liver and Pancreatic Cancer Research & Development Charity, was a key beneficiary from money raised on the night. ^[20]

Coaching career

On 13 July 2016, Davis was appointed as Football Development Executive at Southampton to provide support to the players in the first team. ^[21] On 29 December 2017 Davis was appointed as senior first team coach following the resignation of Eric Black. ^[22]

On 3 December 2018, he was placed in temporary charge of the first team, following the dismissal of manager Mark Hughes. ^[23]

On 25 May 2022, Southampton parted ways with Davis after confirming a change within the coaching team. ^[3]

Eastleigh

On 19 February 2024, Davis was appointed manager of National League side Eastleigh. ^[24] Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, Davis signed a new three-year contract. ^[25]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ^{[26] [27]}

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Luton Town	1994–95	First Division	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	22	0
	1995–96	First Division		0	0	0	0	0	4	0		0
	1996–97	Second Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1997–98	Second Division	29	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	30	0
	1998–99	Second Division	44	0	2	0	7	0	0	0	53	0
	Total		91	0	2	0	7	0	5	0	105	0
Torquay United (loan)	1994–95	Third Division	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	4	0
Hartlepool United (loan)	1997–98	Third Division	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
Wimbledon	1999–2000	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2000–01	First Division	45	0	6	0	4	0	0	0	54	0
	2001–02	First Division	40	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	40	0
	2002–03	First Division	46	0	2	0	3	0	0	0	51	0
	Total		131	0	8	0	7	0	0	0	146	0
Ipswich Town	2003–04	First Division	45	0	2	0	2	0	2	0	51	0
	2004–05	Championship	39	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	42	0
	Total		84	0	3	0	2	0	4	0	93	0
Sunderland	2005–06	Premier League	33	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	35	0
Southampton	2006–07	Championship	38	0	2	0	3	0	1	0	44	0
	2007–08	Championship	35	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	38	0
	2008–09	Championship	46	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	47	0
	2009–10	League One	40	0	4	0	2	0	4	0	50	0
	2010–11	League One	46	0	1	0	2	0	1	0	50	0
	2011–12	Championship	46	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	46	0
	2012–13	Premier League	10	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	11	0
	2013–14	Premier League	2	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	8	0
	2014–15	Premier League	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	2015–16	Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		271	0	11	0	7	0	6	0	301	0
Career total			613	0	26	0	28	0	46	0	687	0

Managerial

As of match played 14 December 2024

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	From	To	Record					Ref.
			P	W	D	L	Win %
Southampton (caretaker)	3 December 2018	6 December 2018	1	0	0	1	000.0	[28]
Eastleigh	19 February 2024	Present	35	13	10	12	037.1	[29]
Total			36	13	10	13	036.1

Honours

Southampton

• Football League Championship runner-up: 2011–12
• Football League One runner-up: 2010–11
• Football League Trophy: 2009–10 ^[30]

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year: 2004–05 Championship, ^[6] 2009–10 League One, ^[31] 2010–11 League One, ^[32] 2011–12 Championship ^[33]
• Ipswich Town Players' Player of the Year: 2004–05 ^[34]
• Southampton Player of the Season: 2008–09

References

1. "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. 3 September 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
2. "First Team Profiles". Southampton FC. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
3. "Club Statement: May 25th". Southampton FC. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
4. Leigh Edwards (March 1997). The definitive Torquay United F.C. The Association of Football Statisticians. p. 73. ISBN   1-899468-09-9.
5. "Ipswich land Davis". BBC Sport. 29 July 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
6. "Sunderland/Wigan dominate line-up". BBC Sport. 24 April 2005. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
7. "Games played by Kelvin Davis in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
8. "Davis completes Sunderland move". BBC Sport. 14 June 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
9. "Davis fails to overturn FA charge". BBC Sport. 16 March 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
10. "Kelvin Davis snubs West Ham for new Southampton deal". Daily Echo. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
11. "Southampton 1–1 Millwall". BBC. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
12. "Southampton 0 – 0 Brighton". BBC. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
13. "Saints keeper signs new contract". BBC News. 28 July 2011.
14. "Kelvin Hails Massive Three Points". Southampton FC. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
15. "Duo in Weekly Side". Southampton FC. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
16. "Man City 3–2 Southampton". BBC. 19 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
17. "Southampton 2–3 Man Utd". BBC. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
18. "Kelvin Davis extends Southampton contract until 2016". goal.com. 7 March 2013.
19. "Lessons learned from City defeat, says Davis". Southampton FC. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
20. "Saints to stage testimonial for club captain Davis". Southampton FC. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
21. "Davis appointed Football Development Executive". Southampton FC. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
22. "Davis appointed First Team Assistant Coach". Southampton FC. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
23. "Mark Hughes: Southampton sack manager after eight months in charge". BBC Sport. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
24. "Kelvin Davis appointed first team manager". Eastleigh FC. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
25. "NEWS | KELVIN DAVIS SIGNS A NEW DEAL WITH THE SPITFIRES". www.eastleighfc.com. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
26. "Kelvin Davis". Soccerbase. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
27. "K. Davis". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
28. "Managers: Kelvin Davis". Soccerbase. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
29. "Eastleigh FC: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
30. Shemilt, Stephan (28 March 2010). "Carlisle United 1–4 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
31. "Rooney is PFA player of the year". BBC Sport. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
32. "Spurs' Gareth Bale wins PFA player of the year award". BBC Sport. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
33. "Arsenal striker Robin van Persie named PFA Player of the Year". BBC Sport. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
34. "Davis Wins Players' Award". twtd.co.uk (Those Were The Days). 3 May 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2020.

External links

• Kelvin Davis player profile Archived 5 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
• Kelvin Davis at Soccerbase