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EVERTON FC: DAI - EUROPE SO SPECIAL

/noticias.info/ Ex-Everton goalkeeper Dai Davies has been talking to evertontv about his time at Goodison Park, the club's current stopper Tim Howard and his life after football.

Tall, agile and brave, Dai was considered to be a natural successor to Gordon West when Harry Catterick paid Swansea £20,000 to secure his services in December 1970.

Yet despite his near-perfect goalkeeping physique and undoubted talent Dai found it difficult to dislodge West and made just two appearances for the Toffees in four years.

A successful loan spell back at Swansea eventually earned Dai a chance at Everton and he grabbed it with both hands, adding a further 92 first-team appearances before joining Wrexham in September 1977.

He later had a third spell at Swansea, a second at Wrexham and another stint on Merseyside with Tranmere Rovers. His 52 international appearances at one time made him Wales’ most capped player.

Dai, what are you up to these days?

“I actually run a natural health clinic in Llangollen in Wales. I’m a body worker by trade. I do a thing called the Bowen Technique which works with soft tissue and realigns the muscles. I’m also a qualified Pilates instructor and run a studio. It’s completely different but I’m very enthusiastic in trying to help people maintain their fitness and long may it continue.

So, do you still follow football?

“Yes, I still watch a lot of football and I do a little bit of work for a Welsh television programme. They show European football, Wales internationals and League of Wales matches so maybe I’m going to be doing more and more of that.”

You must keep an eye out for all your old clubs then?

“Absolutely. It's a shame what has happened to Wrexham but that's a different story. You look at Everton though and they had a wonderful season. I think the record number of Premier League points was a brilliant achievement and I don’t think they were ever trounced by anybody. They were very competitive, very strong at the back, and you always knew what you were going to get from them. The fact they played in Europe as well, that’s going to instil enthusiasm and now players want to come here because they’ve got a chance of something extra.”

You must have very fond memories of playing in Europe?

“Yes. I actually played against AC Milan away and we lost 1-0 to a penalty. Billy Bingham was the manager and I remember it was a terrific atmosphere. The Italian’s were so abusive in those days – screaming, shouting, swearing. But they were a good side. We really had to be on our metal and we got a credible result – a 1-0 defeat away from home. That was pretty good really.

"Europe was very good to me personally. I was very lucky. I actually played for another three Welsh sides in Europe; Swansea and Wrexham and then I made a comeback and played for Bangor City as well.”

What makes playing in Europe so special?

“Europe is something that is special for a lot of players, especially these days when you’re talking about the top four. Not many teams actually get a chance to play in Europe so it is the icing on the cake, and I’m sure David Moyes, the players and the fans love that opportunity to travel to different countries and challenge the best in Europe.

“You don’t do Europe every week of the year so therefore it’s something to look forward to, it raises your game and there’s a different buzz in training. Also, the staff have got to watch and look at different players and different systems. They are usually better at keeping the ball abroad so you have to be a little bit more disciplined. It’s a little bit like cat and mouse and you can be unaware as you go out into the unknown. That’s different for the players, it gives them an edge and it makes the fans happy as well.”

You were obviously a very talented goalkeeper. What do you make of Everton’s current No 1 Tim Howard?

“It was fairly well known when he came from Manchester United that he was a very, very good goalkeeper. The ability he’s got – he’s very agile and he commands his box – means Everton don’t lose many games. It’s because of him, and also because there’s a relationship between the back four and Tim which is instrumental in the backbone of the team. If you look at all the teams that win things you’ve always got a very, very good goalkeeper.”

At 29 he’s still young for a goalkeeper too. Do you think it’s a position in which players improve with age?

“The luck of a goalkeeper is really just the thickness of the post. The secret is not to get too high when you’re playing well and not to get too low when you’re playing badly. As long as your training is ok you will eventually play well. But you do rely on the 10 people in front of you, so you need a good relationship with them.”

This exclusive interview with Dai is available to view now for evertonTV subscribers. To subscribe to evertonTV click here. It is available for just £4.99 a month or £40 a year. notas_de_prensa_archivo