Our Davy

This topic contains 1 reply, has 2 voices, and was last updated by  sarky parky 4 years, 1 month ago.

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  • #1827891

    DH54WBA
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    Whilst up at the driving range yesterday one of the club employees happened to notice my Albion beanie, my Albion rain jacket and my Albion head covers and stopped me mid swing to enquire whether I was a West Brom supporter? I resisted the urge to reply sarcastically and as so many do he went on to tell me that he had been good friends with a famous Albion player. When asked who this might be he said ‘Davy Walsh’ and although my player memory over the past 65 years isn’t bad I could not place this name at all. ‘Also played for the Villa’ I was told ‘and Ireland. People used to pay just to watch him play’

    None of this helped so on returning home I checked it out and indeed one Davy Walsh signed for the Albion as a 23 year old centre forward in 1946, scored 100 goals for us and was then sold to the Villa in 1950 for the significant sum of £25000. He played many times for the two Irish teams of that era but it was all before my time. I seem to recall that Sarky has some seniority in these matters and might remember him? He was probably replaced by the great Ronnie Allen and missed out on being a member of the fantastic 53/54 team?

    Anyway I started to think about who at the Albion I have ever paid to watch play and aside from the successful teams which have excited us all from time to time over the years I can only think of three who had me buying a ticket with just them in mind. Bryan Robson of course, the ultimate midfielder; Willie Johnstone the wizard of the wing and Jason Koumas possibly the most creative player of many we have been fortunate to find. Plenty of other Albion greats mixed in with the most successful sides but these would be my individuals.

    Anyone with other ideas?

    #1829024

    sarky parky
    Participant
    • :

    Yes I saw Walsh a few times during our promotion season in 1948/49. He was quite a player. But at the time we had an even better Irishman in the team, the centre-half and captain, Jack Vernon. Jack twice played for a Great Britain X1 and the second time he was captain, which was quite an honour.
    Walsh left in 1950 but Allen wasn’t signed until 1951 and initially as a right-winger. He wasn’t switched to centre-forward until 1952/53 ant together with the equally great Ray Barlow was the fulcrum of the wonderful Albion side of Vic Buckingham, Albion’s greatest ever manager. Allen and Barlow are my two favorite Albion players. Thinking of other players who fired my imagination there was Astle and Hope of the very good Alan Ashman cup-winning side, Bryan Robson and Regis of Ron Atkinson’s team although I loved Laurie Cunningham too. And Tony Brown who starred in the last two sides was pretty special. Since then, well Richard Sneekes burst on to the Hawthorns scene
    at the time we needed someone to inspire us and of course Jason Koumas. Steven Gerard who played with Jason in the Liverpool youth side said of him “if he had my attitude and determination he would be a world-beater.” He was certainly worth the admission money. I agree that there are other very good players and I would hope that in one or two years time. Mathias Pereira will be mentioned in the same breath as the ones I have listed above.

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