Eli Davis
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | December 1855 | ||
| Place of birth | Dudley, Worcs | ||
| Position | Inside left | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1877–79 | Birmingham Excelsior | ||
| 1879–1885 | Aston Villa | 22 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Elisha Davis (born December 1855, Dudley) was an English footballer. He played in Aston Villa's first ever FA Cup tie.[1]
Mason played for Villa on Easter Monday, April 1878 when they faced Sheffield's Heeley Club.[2] Heeley were generally considered favourites by reason of their pedigree but they were beaten 4-0 by a team with technical superiority and pace.[3]
The 1879–80 English football season saw Aston Villa's entry into top flight competitive association football with their first tie in the FA Cup.[4] The start of the official record was Saturday 13 December 1879 when Villa faced Stafford Road F.C., of the Stafford Road railway works, Wolverhampton. The match was played before a crowd of 2,000 at Stafford's Half-Way House Ground.[4] In 2024, celebrating the club's 150th anniversary, Aston Villa Legacy Numbers were introduced indexing every first-team player who had represented the club in a competitive fixture.[5] Although playing before shirt numbers were introduced in 1926, Goalkeeper John Ball received Legacy Number 1.[6] Inside-left Davis received Legacy Number #3,[1] Andy Hunter #4,[7] officially became Villa's first goal-scorer in the 1–1 draw.[4]
The 29-year-old Davis played his final game on 10 January 1885 in Villa's 3rd round loss 0–3 away to Albion. He subsequently retired.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Eli Davis". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ↑ Grand Football Match, Birmingham Daily Post, 20 April 1878, p4
- ↑ Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, 23 April 1878, p3
- 1 2 3 "🟨 13 Dec 1879, Villa 1-1 Stafford Road, Half-Way House Ground". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ↑ "Legacy Numbers: Aston Villa approach 1,000th player". Aston Villa Football Club. 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ↑ "John Ball". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ↑ "Andy Hunter". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
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