The game at Milton Keynes Dons in October saw Chesterfield born Gareth Davies make his 100th first team appearance for The Spireites. A schoolboy player with Sheffield United, Gareth didn't get the call to become a trainee at Bramall Lane, he had a spell at Buxton whilst also involved with the Chesterfield College scheme that's linked closely with the Football Club, played some games in our Youth Team and was offered a professional contract when he was 18. It was a year later that Gareth burst onto the Saltergate scene, after two defeats at QPR and at home to Swindon, Dave Rushbury introduced him as right wing back for the home game against Port Vale and he impressed all with his work rate and delivery, especially the cross of Chris Brandon's famous overhead kick goal that made it 2-0, as Brando celebrated, Gareth lay in the corner, wrecked by stitch! The following week he did what every Chesterfield boy dreams of, he scored in a win at Mansfield Town.
He remained a regular in the 2002-03 side, though his appearances did suffer after a switch to 4-4-2 from the three at the back formation, in 03-04 he became known more as a utility man, playing central as well as wide in midfield as well as showing some form at full back though often being on the bench, though last season he appeared in his fewest games in a campaign since breaking into the team, the form (and lack of injuries) of the likes of Allott, Bailey and Niven meaning he only rarely got a start, though he never let anyone down when he did, his value to the squad being recognised by a new contract.
However this season, he's got a regular spot in the side, and a tag of 'lucky charm' as well, his 10 starts have yielded 6 wins and two draws, and we were level at 0-0 when he was subbed in the defeat at Bradford City!
In recent weeks he's had a few problems with a painful back, he's continued playing but has had a few problems, but he hopes all of that is behind him now after some revolutionary treatment. "My back's fine now", Gareth told me at half time at Macclesfield, where he took a breather, "I've had to have three sugar injections in it because my pelvis had locked and I'd been getting spasms down the left side of my body, but it seems to be sorted and I feel strong again. The injections have been in America now for a few years, but are fairly new over here. They make ligaments stronger so my muscles can relax more and that reduces the problem. It affected me more when I was getting tired, generally the last 20 minutes of a game, and I'd go into spasms and it would be really painful."
On his best run in the side for quite a while, Gareth was rightly proud, "I've really enjoyed it, I started off in midfield when Derek Niven wasn't fit and it was my ticket to prove what I could do again, so I aim to work hard and make that spot in the team my own."
So, full back, midfield, even occasional striker, does the tag of utility man help or hinder his task of getting a regular place in the side? "It's a bit of both really. I enjoy playing right back now, I didn't use to a few years ago but now I've got more experience with 100 games under my belt and I've got Paul Hall in front of me telling me what to do, so I'm loving it. We've had a few injuries at crucial times, we lost Alex Bailey and Aaron Downes, that's half of the defence gone straight away, but it gave others a chance to come in and do a good job. Sammy Clingan's come in now as well so competition's tough and on top of that, the atmosphere's really good as well."
So was last season a difficult one for him, just nine starts in League One? "It was very frustrating, but I just had to keep on going, I still learning and am still willing to learn. Last season no-one really dropped out with injury to allow me to get in and do a job but this season, I've had my chance and proved what I can do and it's helped me get better as a player."
And now he's got another local, Kevan Hurst, alongside him to fly the Chesterfield flag, "I've known him a long time, he's a good lad and it's nice to have another Chesterfield lad in the side."
So, this is Gareth's fourth season as a first teamer, what differences has he spotted at the old place in that time? "I think we're playing better football now, there's a few of us who've been together for a couple of years or more now, so we know what we're each capable of doing, I think we're all playing better as well and the new additions have generally been better players too, Hally and Sammy, Larkin's been a massive bonus, so I think we'll definitely make the play-offs this year, we've definitely got a good enough side.There's competition for places, we all know that if you're not playing well, someone's ready to come in and take your spot, so it keeps you on your toes, the Gaffer's obviously doing a good job."
As a local lad and a former College scheme player, no doubt Gareth is enjoying the success of Dave Bentley's Youth side as well as the progress of young pro's like Jubb, Fox and Lancaster. "It's smashing to see the young lads doing well, I always see them on a Monday morning and get details of how things went at the weekend and I wish them well every Friday. Also, Anthony Jubb often speaks to me about the game, it's great being able to give advice if they want to come to me. The youngsters have some good players, especially Jamie Lowery. He's trained with the first team a few times and he's a good player, a bit like me that he can play in a few different positions."
Gareth had a spell on loan at Matlock Town in his first year as a pro at the Club, Jubb and Michael Fox have just spent a month at Ernie Moss's Belper Town, so how important does he see that type of spell for junior professionals? "It's massively important, the main thing it helps build your character. It teaches you a lot of things you need in football, when to get rid of the ball and when not to, it helps you grow up, it turns you into a man. I was speaking to Ernie at the start of the season and mentioned a few names, then Jubby and Foxy went there for a month and really enjoyed it. Personally, I think they've come back as better players."
So, having made it into the starting eleven, with Bailey now fit again, Phil Picken and Sammy Clingan desperate for starting places, what does Davies hope to achieve for the rest of the season? "At the moment, I just take each day as it comes, I keep doing what I'm doing and keep improving so hopefully a spot will be mine for the rest of the season."
There's no doubting Gareth has never ever given less than 100% for the cause, whether in as a regular or a stop-gap, so I'm sure everyone acknowledges his loyalty to the Club and hopes that he can add many more appearances to the 100 he's already chalked up for his Home Town team.
PHIL TOOLEY
