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Len Davies

Born in Splott on 28 April 1899, Len Davies was still Cardiff City’s leading goalscorer in 2026 with 179 in all competitions in a career that spanned more than 372 games between 1919 and 1931. He won Wales Schoolboy honours against England in 1913 before making his club debut in the Southern League in 1919. He didn’t become a regular in the City side until 1922, by which time they were playing in the Second Division. His first goal for the club came in the Welsh Cup in a defeat to Pontypridd, but he first made his mark when he was given a chance to take over up front from Fred Pagnam, who had failed to score in 13 appearances. Davies came into the side in November 1921 and scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over Everton. He scored in his next two appearances and remained a regular in the first team for the remainder of the campaign. He went on to be the clubs top scorer for five successive seasons until the arrival of Hughie Ferguson. In December 1921, Cardiff rejected a bid of £3,000 (around £190,000 in 2025) for Davies from a rival First Division club and he had the distinction of scoring Cardiff’s first hat-trick in the Football League on 21 January 1922 during a 6–3 victory over Bradford City.

In the 1923–24 season Cardiff went into their final game of the campaign needing a win to become the first Welsh side to win the Football League First Division title. Davies missed a penalty in the game as his side were held to a goalless draw, missing out on the title via goal average. He helped the club reach the 1925 FA Cup Final but missed the game due to injury. He played in the 1927 FA Cup Final, helping the side become the only Welsh side to win the competition as they defeated Arsenal 1–0. He scored three goals in the FA Cup run and six as the Bluebirds also won the Welsh Cup. Cardiff also won the Community Shield. He was second highest scorer that season with 16 in 46 appearances in all competitions.

His best season was 1921-22 when he scored 30 goals in 35 games. He also scored the winner in the 2-1 Charity Shield victory over the Corinthians in 1927. He won 23 caps for Wales, scoring six goals, and was in the side that won the Home Nations tournament in 1924 and 1928. On the 1929 tour to Canada with Wales he scored seven goals in one game against a Lower Mainland side in Vancouver. He went on to manager Bangor City before spending the years of WW2 working in aircraft production in Speke, Liverpool.

He died on 25 November 1945 at the age of 46.