515 Ian Davidson

Biography

Born in Goole, wing half and midfielder Ian Davidson came through the junior ranks at Hull City in the mid-1960s and signed his first professional contract with the club in February 1965. The quality and consistency of City’s half back line during the 1965/66 Division Three title winning season meant Davidson did not get a first team chance until November 1966, when he came on as a substitute in a 0-2 defeat at Carlisle United. Ian was handed a second appearance in September 1967 against Middlesbrough, deputising for the absent Chris Simpkin, then made four starts in the latter months of the 1967/68 season and scored his only Tigers goal at the end of April 1968 against Rotherham.

Unable to find a way into the first team at the start of the 1968/69 season, Davidson joined Scunthorpe United in September 1968 on a season-long loan. Deployed at the base of the Iron’s midfield, Davidson made 37 senior appearances before leaving both Scunthorpe and parent club Hull City in June 1969 and signing for Division Four side York City. He missed only two League games during the 1969/70 season and maintained his first team place for the 1970/71 season, adding eight goals as the Minstermen won promotion to Division Three. He left York City in the 1971 close season having scored eight times in 102 senior appearances.

Davidson transferred to York’s Division Three rivals Bournemouth in July 1971 as part of a player-exchange deal but managed only 10 appearances all season before switching to Stockport County a year later. At Edgeley Park Ian was restored to first team action in a more advanced role and scored nine goals in 92 appearances across two seasons, the second of which saw the Hatters finish rock-bottom 92nd in the Football League. Davidson left Stockport in July 1974 and joined non-league side Worcester City, who during the early weeks of the 1974/75 season were briefly managed by Hereford United legend Ronnie Radford, but by October 1974 he was failing to turn up for Worcester’s training sessions and seeking a transfer to Scarborough. Returned north to the East Coast, Davidson played in the 1975 FA Trophy Final at Wembley, which opponents Matlock Town won 4-0 but then drifted out of the game.

Ian returned to Goole for the rest of his life, he died in December 2021.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 31 January 1947, Goole
Hull City First Game: 5 November 1966, Carlisle United A (Division Two), 19 years, 278 days old
Hull City Final Game: 4 May 1968, Charlton Athletic A (Division Two), 21 years, 94 days old

Clubs

Hull City (1965-1969), Scunthorpe United (1968-1969, loan), York City (1969-1971), Bournemouth (1971-1972), Stockport County (1972-1974), Worcester City (1974), Scarborough (1974-1975)

Hull City Record

Career: 6 apps, 1 goals

Ian Davidson
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1964/65----------
1965/66----------
1966/670 (1)0--------
1967/685 (0)1--------
1968/69----------

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