Eli Davis

Eli Davis
Personal information
Date of birth December 1855 (1855-12)
Place of birth Dudley, Worcs
Position Inside left
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
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]

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.[2] 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.[2] 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.[3] Although playing before shirt numbers were introduced in 1926, Goalkeeper John Ball received Legacy Number 1.[4] Inside-left Davis received Legacy Number #3,[1] Andy Hunter #4,[5] officially became Villa's first goal-scorer in the 1–1 draw.[2]

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

  1. ^ a b c "Eli Davis". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  2. ^ a b c "🟨 13 Dec 1879, Villa 1-1 Stafford Road, Half-Way House Ground". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  3. ^ "Legacy Numbers: Aston Villa approach 1,000th player". Aston Villa Football Club. 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  4. ^ "John Ball". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  5. ^ "Andy Hunter". AVFC History. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
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