21 Facts About Teddy Davison

John Edward Davison was an English footballer and manager who had a long and successful association with the football clubs of Sheffield, playing for The Wednesday for 18 years and later managing Sheffield United for 20 years.

Teddy Davison played as a goalkeeper in a career which lasted between 1908 and 1926, making 424 appearances in all competitions for The Wednesday, his only league club.

Teddy Davison has gone down in football records as the smallest goalkeeper ever to play for England, making just one appearance for the national team in March 1922.

Teddy Davison was born in Gateshead, County Durham, the seventh of nine children.

The 21-year-old Teddy Davison made his Wednesday debut on 10 October 1908, however he only made eight appearances in that first season, being unable to dislodge Lyall.

Teddy Davison was to remain first choice for the next 12 seasons, a remarkable achievement bearing in mind that he lost four years of his career to World War I when professionial football was suspended.

Teddy Davison volunteered for the army during World War I and was sent to France in July 1916, serving with the Royal Field Artillery for the rest of the war.

Teddy Davison did make two wartime appearances for Wednesday when he was home on leave.

Teddy Davison was picked eight times for Sheffield's representative side and toured Australia with the FA in 1925.

Teddy Davison continued playing until January 1927 when a broken rib in a game against Newark Town forced him to end his playing career.

Teddy Davison immediately reorganised the club, making clear divisions between the administrative and playing sides, and bringing in experienced players such as Sid Binks.

Teddy Davison consolidated Chesterfield's position in the Second Division the following season, continuing to bring in experienced players such as ex-England international George Ashmore.

Teddy Davison established a scouting network in his native north east to bring in young players.

Teddy Davison's first season at United saw them finish a respectable 10th in the First Division, but the following season was a disaster as United were relegated for the first time in their history.

Two mid table finishes and a failure to get a quick return to the First Division saw Teddy Davison resign as United manager in August 1952.

Teddy Davison was not out of a job for long as he was immediately offered his old job as manager of Chesterfield, who had just parted company with Bobby Marshall.

Teddy Davison tried his formula of signing experienced players, with Dennis Westcott and Cyril Hatton arriving at Saltergate amongst others.

Teddy Davison had to endure severe financial constraints with the club only being able to afford 14 full-time professionals.

Teddy Davison was asked to manage the Third Division North side against the South in April 1957.

Teddy Davison stepped down as Chesterfield manager in May 1958, at the age of 70, however he did continue to do some scouting for the club.

Teddy Davison's legacy is that he probably made the biggest individual impact on Sheffield football of any person in history.