Fernando Torres, AKA Roger 'The Dodger' Davies
19 September 2011
Apart from Manchester United supporters there will be one man who will be grateful for that Fernando Torres miss on Sunday and that man will be Roger Davies.
Fans younger than 40 will be asking 'Roger who' but those of a certain vintage will remember Roger 'The Dodger' Davies who was Derby County's centre forward under Brian Clough.
Roger was a tall but very skillful centre forward who spearheaded Derby to the Football League Championship in 1975 just a couple of months after what many regard as the worst miss in top flight football history by him. It was March 1975 and The Rams were heading for their second league championship in three seasons while Chelsea were on their way to the Second Division.
The game was at Stamford Bridge and Roger was put clean through with only the keeper to beat. Let him take up the story.
"I was put through and John Phillips who was in goal came out to meet me. I went around him, to his right, meaning to side foot the ball home. I pulled the ball around John then, almost on the six yard line, I stubbed my right foot against the ball and pushed it past the post. Luckily we won 2-1 but I got a right roasting from Brian Clough afterwards. I told him I thought I had scored. He said 'you didn't and don't ever THINK you have scored until you do."
Thirty six years later Roger Davies will be grateful that Fernando Torres has deposed him from the top of the table for 'Worst ever goal misses in football". The Chelsea centre forward may have to wait his 36 years for another to replace him.
Brian Beard