Kerry Davis
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{For|the radio producer and writer|Keri Davies}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kerry Davis
| fullname = Kerry Davis
| image = Kerry Davis 3.JPG
| caption = Davis in 2015
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1962|08|02}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=421/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813022256/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=421/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 August 2009|title=England:Kerry Davis|publisher=FIFA|access-date=2009-11-12}}
| birth_place = Stoke-on-Trent, England
| height =
| position = Forward
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| years1 = {{0|0000}}–1985|clubs1 = Crewe Alexandra Ladies |caps1 = |goals1 =
| years2 = 1985–1986|clubs2 = Roi Lazio |caps2 = |goals2 =
| years3 = 1986–1988|clubs3 = Trani 80 |caps3 = |goals3 =
| years4 = 1988–1989|clubs4 = Napoli |caps4 = |goals4 =
| years5 = 1989–1992|clubs5 = Crewe Alexandra Ladies |caps5 = |goals5 =
| years6 = 1992–1994|clubs6 = Liverpool Ladies |caps6 = |goals6 =
| years7 = 1994–1999|clubs7 = Croydon Women |caps7 = |goals7 =
| nationalyears1 = 1982–1998
| nationalteam1 = England
| nationalcaps1 = 90
| nationalgoals1 = 43
| club-update =
| ntupdate =
}}
Kerry Davis (born 2 August 1962) is an English former international women's footballer. She was the first Black woman to play for the England women's national team.
During her 16-year international career, Davis represented England in the inaugural 1984 UEFA Championships final and at England's first FIFA Women's World Cup appearance in 1995. She also helped England win the Mundialito tournament in Italy and scored for her country at Wembley Stadium. At club level Davis spent four seasons playing in Italy, in between spells with Crewe Alexandra Ladies. She later played for Liverpool Ladies and Croydon.
Club career
Davis was a 23–year–old student from Stoke-on-Trent, playing for Crewe Alexandra Ladies, when Italian club Roi Lazio signed her in November 1985.{{cite news|title=Women footballers are lured by the lire / English women to become professional soccer players in Italy|author=Simon Barnes|newspaper=The Times|date=1985-11-21}} She spent four years playing semi–professionally in Italy, one year at the Stadio Flaminio with Roi Lazio, two years with Trani and one with Napoli.{{cite news|title=The Diary: Lazio for beginners|author=Henry Winter|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|date=1991-05-18}}{{cite news|title=A nice place to go for a holiday . . . ; From basketball to table tennis, European integration is nothing new to Britain's sportsmen and women, many of whom have gone to live and work in the EC. A selection recount their experiences; Kerry Davis, Footballer|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|date=1991-12-01}} In her second season with Trani, Davis played alongside compatriot Debbie Bampton. They finished runners–up in both the Serie A and national Cup before the club folded and Bampton returned to England.
After a further year at Napoli, Davis returned to Crewe Alexandra Ladies, but by April 1994 was playing for Knowsley United Women in the FA Women's Cup final.{{cite news|title=SOCCER: MARSEILLE START COURT BATTLE TO REVERSE RELEGATION PUNISHMENT|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1994-04-25}} Knowsley became Liverpool Ladies that summer and Davis left for Croydon Women in December 1994.{{cite news|title=England women thirsting for revenge|author=Alyson Rudd|newspaper=The Times|date=1994-12-10}}
In 1996, Davis was playing for Croydon{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/davis-puts-portuguese-to-flight-1348221.html|title=Davis puts Portuguese to flight|author=Tom Chesshyre|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|date=1996-05-20|access-date=2009-11-12}} when they won the league and cup double. In May 1996 goals from Davis and Brenda Sempare earned the decisive 2–1 league win over Arsenal Ladies.{{cite news|title=Croydon double|newspaper=The Times|date=1996-05-15}} That summer she sparked rumours of a transfer by guesting for Arsenal Ladies in a pre–season tournament,{{cite news|title=Olympic success can ignite women's game|author=Sarah Forde|newspaper=The Times|date=1996-08-12}} but remained with Croydon. She eventually resigned in April 1999.{{cite news|title=Davis quits title push|author=Cathy Gibb|newspaper=The Times|date=1999-04-24}}
International career
Davis made her England debut in 1982, becoming England's first black woman international.{{cite web |last=Paterson |first=Abi |last2=Penney |first2=Sophie |date=28 October 2021 |title='There were no black players on the pitch': Hope Powell and Kerry Davis on women's football's diversity problem |url=https://theathletic.com/2918451/2021/10/28/no-black-players-pitch-hope-powell-kerry-davis-womens-football-england-diversity/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004005620/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2918451/2021/10/28/no-black-players-pitch-hope-powell-kerry-davis-womens-football-england-diversity/ |archive-date=4 October 2024 |website=The Athletic}} Davis played in the first UEFA championships for national women's teams in 1984. England reached the final only to lose to Sweden on penalties, despite Davis successfully converting her kick.{{cite news |author=Tony Leighton |date=2009-05-19 |title=England's shoot-out jinx begins - England, 1984 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/19/seven-deadly-sins-football-penalty-women-england |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127081558/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/19/seven-deadly-sins-football-penalty-women-england |archive-date=27 November 2022 |access-date=2010-10-12 |newspaper=The Guardian}} In the qualifying stages, Davis had been England's top scorer after making her debut in the first ever match in UEFA competition; a 7–1 win over Northern Ireland at Gresty Road on 19 September 1982. In August 1985 Davis scored in a 1–1 group stage draw with Italy, during England's victorious Mundialito campaign. At the 1987 UEFA championships England lost to Sweden at the semi–final stage, 3–2 after extra time. Davis gave England the lead against Italy in the third place match, but Carolina Morace and Betty Vignotto replied to ensure England finished fourth.{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/TabellinoGara?squadra=13&codiceGara=1719|title=Italia - Inghilterra|publisher=FIGC|access-date=2012-04-21|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201044658/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/TabellinoGara?squadra=13&codiceGara=1719|url-status=dead}}
As a curtain–raiser to the 1990 FA Charity Shield, England played Italy at Wembley Stadium. Davis netted a consolation in England's 4–1 defeat, while Carolina Morace scored all four Italian goals and featured on the front page of the following day's La Gazzetta dello Sport.{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/TabellinoGara?squadra=13&codiceGara=233|title=Inghilterra - Italia|publisher=FIGC|access-date=2012-04-21|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003957/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/TabellinoGara?squadra=13&codiceGara=233|url-status=dead}} Davis later described her former Trani teammate Morace as: "the best women's player I have ever seen."{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-smisek-sinks-england-women-1149160.html|title=Press for attention |first=Nick|last=Wyke|journal=When Saturday Comes |date=March 1997|access-date=2012-04-21}}
Davis also played in all four of England's matches at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup. She had won her 60th cap in the 4–1 UEFA Women's Euro 1995 semi–final first–leg defeat to Germany on 11 December 1994. In May 1996 Davis scored two goals and set up the other for strike–partner Kelly Smith in a 3–0 win over Portugal at Griffin Park. Although Davis's versatility saw her selected as a midfielder or sometimes as a defender, she continued to score at a prolific rate. By the time of a World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands in October 1997, Davis had 42 goals in 78 appearances.{{cite news|title=Football: Bright Smith lights England's blue touchpaper; England 1 Netherlands 0|author=Mike Rowbottom|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|date=1997-10-31}} In March 1998, Davis made her 82nd and final appearance for England, but was substituted 20 minutes into a 1–0 defeat to Germany at The Den.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-smisek-sinks-england-women-1149160.html|title=Football: Smisek sinks England women|first=Mike|last=Rowbottom|newspaper=The Independent|location=London |date=1998-03-09|access-date=2012-04-21}}
Davis left the England squad in April 1998, ahead of another friendly with Italy.{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ladies+in+the+limelight.-a060785647|title=LADIES IN THE LIMELIGHT |author=Ged Scott |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=21 April 1998 |access-date=28 April 2010}}
In October 2010, She Kicks magazine reported that Davis remained England's all–time record goalscorer. Although it was stated that records were "sketchy" because the Football Association (FA) took over running women's football in 1993. There was uncertainty whether all Davis's goals before this were scored in matches considered official.{{cite magazine |title=She Kicks Facts Fix |first=Colin A|last=Aldis |magazine=She Kicks |date=13 October 2010|issue=3}} In February 2012 Kelly Smith netted twice against Finland, moving on to 45 goals for England and setting a new record.
International goals
| class="wikitable" | ||||||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | rowspan=2| 19 September 1982 | rowspan=2| Crewe, England | rowspan=2| {{fbw|NIR}} | align=center|?–? | rowspan=2 align=center| 7–1 | rowspan=11| 1984 European Competition for Women's Football qualifying |
| 2. | align=center|?–? | |||||
| 3. | rowspan=4| 3 October 1982 | rowspan=4| Dumbarton, Scotland | rowspan=4| {{fbw|SCO}} | align=center|1–0 | rowspan=4 align=center| 4–0 | |
| 4. | align=center|2–0 | |||||
| 5. | align=center|3–0 | |||||
| 6. | align=center|4–0 | |||||
| 7. | 7 November 1982 | Dublin, Ireland | {{fbw|IRL}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 1–0 | |
| 8. | rowspan=2| 14 May 1983 | rowspan=2| Belfast, Northern Ireland | rowspan=2| {{fbw|NIR}} | align=center|?–0 | rowspan=2 align=center| 4–0 | |
| 9. | align=center|?–0 | |||||
| 10. | rowspan=2| 11 September 1983 | rowspan=2| Reading, England | rowspan=2| {{fbw|IRL}} | align=center|?–0 | rowspan=2 align=center| 6–0 | |
| 11. | align=center|?–0 | |||||
| 12. | 30 October 1983 | Charlton, England | {{fbw|SWE}} | align=center|?–? | align=center| 2–2 | Friendly |
| 13. | 17 Marc 1985 | Lancashire, England | {{fbw|SCO}} | align=center|3–0 | align=center| 4–0 | rowspan=6| 1987 European Competition for Women's Football qualifying |
| 14. | rowspan=5| 25 May 1985 | rowspan=5| Antrim, Northern Ireland | rowspan=5| {{fbw|NIR}} | align=center|?–? | rowspan=5 align=center| 8–1 | |
| 15. | align=center|?–? | |||||
| 16. | align=center|?–? | |||||
| 17. | align=center|?–? | |||||
| 18. | align=center|?–? | |||||
| 19. | 17 August 1985 | Ramsey, Isle of Man | {{fbw|WAL}} | align=center|?–0 | align=center| 6–0 | Friendly |
| 20. | rowspan=3| 16 March 1986 | rowspan=3| Blackburn, England | rowspan=3| {{fbw|NIR}} | align=center|5–0 | rowspan=3 align=center| 10–0 | rowspan=3| 1987 European Competition for Women's Football qualifying |
| 21. | align=center|8–0 | |||||
| 22. | align=center|9–0 | |||||
| 23. | rowspan=2| 27 April 1986 | rowspan=2| Reading, England | rowspan=2| {{fbw|IRL}} | align=center|1–0 | rowspan=2 align=center| 4–0 | |
| 24. | align=center|4–0 | |||||
| 25. | 29 March 1987 | Dublin, Ireland | {{fbw|IRL}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 1–0 | Friendly |
| 26. | 11 June 1987 | Moss, Norway | {{fbw|SWE}} | align=center|2–1 | align=center| 3–2 {{aet}} | rowspan=2| 1987 European Competition for Women's Football |
| 27. | 13 June 1987 | Drammen, Norway | {{fbw|ITA}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 1–2 | |
| 28. | 8 November 1987 | Reading, England | {{fbw|DEN}} | align=center|2–0 | align=center| 2–1 | 1989 European Competition for Women's Football qualifying |
Awards
In 2022, Davis was inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |last=Dobson |first=Craig |date=11 November 2022 |title=Kerry Davis inducted into National Football Museum Hall of Fame |url=https://nationalfootballmuseum.com/news/kerry-davis-hall-of-fame/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518222737/http://nationalfootballmuseum.com/news/kerry-davis-hall-of-fame/ |archive-date=18 May 2024 |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=National Football Museum |language=en-GB}} Davis received the Keith Alexander award, at the Football Black List event in April, 2024, for being a pioneer in women's football.{{Cite news |date=April 2024 |title=Kerry 'Pioneer and a Leader' |work=The Voice |pages=46}}
Personal life
Davis was born in England to a Jamaican father and English mother.{{cite web |date=9 November 2020 |title=Lost Lionesses: The black pioneers of women's football |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12100004/lost-lionesses-the-black-pioneers-of-womens-football |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020010537/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12100004/lost-lionesses-the-black-pioneers-of-womens-football |archive-date=20 October 2023 |website=Sky Sports}} After returning from Italy Davis worked in a sports shop in Stoke-on-Trent.
Honours
;Croydon
References
{{reflist}}
{{England squad 1984 European Competition for Women's Football}}
{{England squad 1987 European Competition for Women's Football}}
{{England Squad 1995 Women's World Cup}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Kerry}}
Category:Footballers from Stoke-on-Trent
Category:English women's footballers
Category:England women's international footballers
Category:English people of Jamaican descent
Category:Sportspeople of Jamaican descent
Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees
Category:FA Women's National League players
Category:Charlton Athletic W.F.C. players
Category:Crewe Alexandra L.F.C. players
Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Italy
Category:Liverpool F.C. Women players
Category:1995 FIFA Women's World Cup players
Category:English expatriate women's footballers
Category:Serie A (women's football) players
Category:SS Lazio Women 2015 players
Category:A.C.F. Trani 80 players