Toon Legend Dies Aged 90!

Davies will always be fondly thought of as part of a golden age at St James's Park when the team scooped a trio of FA Cup trophies. He scored 50 times in 170 appearances for the club between 1951 and 1958.

But despite his talent up front, Davies missed out on all three trophies in 1951, 1952, and 1955.

He signed for the Magpies in 1951, for £9,000, but signed too late for the first victory and at a time when the club's talent included Jackie Milburn, Davies was confined to the bench as Newcastle won the FA Cup at Wembley for the second year in succession, beating Arsenal through a late goal by George Robledo, in 1952.

Finally a bout of tonsillitis denied Davies Wembley glory again in 1955, when he was picked to face Manchester City but forced to sit out with his illness.

He was born in Swansea, in 1929. After shining with non-league Cwm Athletic near Swansea, he signed amateur forms for Southampton in the mid-1940s.

He did National Service and when he was demobbed in 1949 he turned professional with Southend United.

In 1951 Davies was snapped up by Newcastle, a month short of his 22nd birthday. He made a scoring debut for the Magpies in a 3-1 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in October 1951, and went on to play for Wales.

In October 1958 Davies left to join Swansea Town, of the Second Division, as part of the deal which brought the brilliant Ivor Allchurch to the North East.

Later in his career he played for Carlisle United, and Merthyr Tydfil, and as player-manager of King's Lynn.

In 1971 he emigrated to Perth, working as player-coach with Bayswater United and Ascot, guiding them both to major trophies. He appeared for Western Australia against New Zealand when he was 47, and played at a high standard into his 50th year. In his spare time he enjoyed jogging beside the Indian Ocean there.

Reg was married to Eileen Laird. He had two sons, and one daughter.