'SMALL DAVE' was named Albion's new captain for 2006/07 after an impressive first season at the club. The appointment followed hot on the heels of the highly-rated defender handing Albion a major boost by penning a new four-year deal in July 2006 following the club's relegation from the top flight. Davies became Albion's most expensive defender when he joined in a £3million transfer-deadline-day switch from Luton in August 2005. After initially linking up with the Hatters as a 16-year-old trialist, Davies earned a scholarship at Kenilworth Road before breaking into the first team at the tender age of 18. The former Wimbledon schoolboy went on to make 62 appearances for Mike Newell's men, scoring two goals, and proved a key figure as Luton romped to the League One title in 2004/05. It was his first full season in professional football yet Davies also won the Powerade Player-of-the-Season award for League One and was named in the PFA League One Team of the Year. Davies closed the chapter on his Luton career in style by scoring a late winner - only his second career goal - in a 2-1 victory over Millwall as Town made an impressive start to Championship life. Following his subsequent switch to Albion, he quickly established himself at the heart of the Baggies defence and became an ever-present for the final 33 Premiership games of 2005/06. His dominant displays soon earned him the nickname 'Small Dave'. He had been christened 'Big Dave' - after the character from a TV advert - by Luton's supporters. But his moniker had to be adapted by Albion fans owing to the fact new team-mate Darren Moore had already been branded 'Big Dave'! Davies so impressed Bryan Robson during his first season at the club that, despite his young years, he was handed the captain's armband on several occasions, making him the Baggies' second youngest captain of all time. He netted his first Albion goals in 2-1 defeats by Charlton and Tottenham in September 2005 and March 2006 respectively. His form also earned him his first England Under-21 cap as a half-time substitute against Norway, at the Madejski Stadium, in February 2005. |
