Natural-born Reds Skipper

Gareth Davies

Picture from 'The Racecourse Robins' - click here to buy a copy

The Big Interview: Peter Davies meets legendary '70s Reds defender, and captain, Gareth Davies

What are your main interests now?
'Well, I own the Trevor Park Hotel in Wrexham. I read a lot of fiction - mainly Frederick Forsyth - and listen to a lot of music. Stuff like Bob Dylan, Neil Young - '60s stuff, rock and blues. I jog quite a bit to keep fit. I also enjoy walking.'

How exactly did your career finish?
'I had to pack in the game at the age of 33 due to a knee injury. I hung around the non-league scene for a while - Bangor City and Stafford Rangers - but when the time came to pack it all in I'd had enough anyway.'

Did you ever want to be a football manager or coach?
'No. I was captain of Wrexham as a player but I never dreamed of staying in the game after I finished.'

Do you still watch football?
'Not really. I've seen a few Wrexham games over the last few years but not many. I've lost interest really. I don't even watch a lot on TV.'

Who do you still keep in touch with?
'Joey. He was my big mate at the Racecourse. We also grew up together in the same street in Llandudno. I still see him now and again.'

How do you reflect now on your career at the Racecourse?
'I had a wonderful time. I broke into the side in the 1969-70 season, but I soon got injured and lost the plot. It was John Neal who steadied me down, made me captain and really sorted me out. Eddie May had left the club and I cemented my place in the side. By the mid-'70s I'd got more experience and really felt I'd established myself in the side.'

What about being captain?
'I really enjoyed it, it really got me going. I was a bit too loud really - I moaned and groaned all the time - but being skipper was very good for me. Some players had to be geed up and I enjoyed that role and that challenge. Between the ages of 26 and 29 I played the best football of my life and I was fortunate to be playing in a good team, with Dai Davies as the goalkeeper.'

Which games do you remember from this period?
'The Blyth matches. I missed the home game but played in the replay. There were 42,000 people at St James's Park and it was the best atmosphere I've ever been a part of. The first game was a scare for us but we played well in the replay. The north-east crowd gave us a lot of stick because of the corner-flag incident in the first match, but we eventually came through OK. I also remember the League Cup quarter-final at home to Liverpool, the 3-2 defeat against Arsenal - we were very unlucky in that game - and the 7-1 victory over Rotherham. After the year before, when we'd messed up against Crystal Palace and Mansfield, the Rotherham game was fantastic. We were 5-0 up at half-time - and promotion was very sweet! Bill Shankly was a big Wrexham fan in those days and he was a fascinating bloke to listen to.'

What did promotion mean to the club?
'It was fantastic, a dream come true. We didn't start particularly well in the promotion season but as soon as we brought Dai Davies and Dixie McNeil in things began to click. After a while, we basically knew we were the best team in the division. The football we were playing was superb. In the cups we beat Newcastle 4-1 and Bristol City 3-0 - we were that good! In addition, we had a very settled side and could play the same eleven virtually every match. Even when people like Eddie Niedzwiecki and John Lyons came in, we kept on doing well. We could beat anyone on our day.'

What about your teammates? Dai Davies?
'A very strong keeper. It was important for us to have experience at the back and Dai provided that.'

Alan Dwyer?
'He was a very big mate of mine. I've not seen him for a while - I think he's working as a driver.'

John Roberts?
'He was a tower of strength at the back - a strong, classic defender. He was a ferocious tackler - a nasty git really! - but not dirty. John was a hard man on the pitch but a real gent off it'.

Arfon Griffiths?
'Simple - he was the best player I've ever seen. He was very underrated, and won more than a dozen Welsh caps late in his career.'

Mickey Thomas?
'He was brilliant in that period of his career. I still read about him in the papers…though I've not seen him since his testimonial.'

And John Neal?
'John was a nice man and a great man - I had a lot of respect for him. He built a great side around Eddie May, and then, a few years later, built another great team. He moved on - and it was a great pity that he didn't see the job through. But Arfon took over and did a great job, really getting the most out of the team that John had built.'

What was Arfon like as a manager?
'He was volatile - the exact opposite to John Neal. Some players didn't really see eye to eye with him, but I got on with him great. After Arfon, Mel Sutton didn't really have a chance. The club was going downhill, and even though Mel had wonderful experience, knowledge and understanding of the game, he had a very difficult job.'

CONTINUED IN RP40!...