Paul Davis

Arsenal

1980–86: Debut and First-team regular

Born in Dulwich, London, but later raised in Bermondsey and Stockwell, Davis came to Arsenal as an associated schoolboy in October 1977 whilst playing for South London Schoolboys and on leaving school he became an apprentice in June 1978, turning professional a year later. A talented left-footed midfielder, he made his debut 7 April 1980 in a North London derby, a 2–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. The following season Paul started nine league games and scored his first goal for Arsenal in a 3–2 win at Highbury against Crystal Palace. In the early days he had to battle for a midfield place against Liam Brady, Graham Rix, Brian Talbot and John Hollins. The season after that, 1981–82, Davis became a regular in the First team, missing only four League games as well as winning his first of his eleven England U21 caps. Davis developed a more physical style of play while retaining his technical ability in midfield. During the following two seasons, he became a regular on the right side of the midfield. In the early part of the 1985-86 season, he formed a midfield partnership with Stewart Robson, although his progress was interrupted by a groin injury that sidelined him for three months.

1986–88: George Graham arrives

By the time George Graham arrived at Highbury in the summer of 1986, Davis was important to Arsenal but without a major winners' medal. Davis known for his pass…

Davis returned to Arsenal to become a youth coach in 1996 but left the club in 2003 after several times being overlooked for promotion an issue he felt was related to skin color. In September 2003 Davis joined PFA, The Professional Footballers' Association coaching department to be a senior educator. On 27 October 2005, Davis was invited to become assistant manager of Kettering Town by new manager Paul Gascoigne, he left Kettering at the same time as Gascoigne's departure from the club on 5 December 2005, despite being asked to stay on, but he chose to return to the PFA where he worked in coach education and equality until February 2016. As of July 2008, he was working as the PFA's Regional Coach South East. In March 2016, Davis joined the FA where he continues to work with the elite coach development team. Davis has studied and gained the FA and Pro UEFA Coaching awards, the highest coaching award in the U.K. along with his UEFA 'A' Licence and the FA Diploma in Football Management from Warwick University, as well as his coach educators awards. Davis is now a senior coach/coach educator for the organisation and he is also an ambassador for the 'Kick It Out' and 'Show Racism the Red Card organisations'. On 26 August 2021, Davis was confirmed as an assistant coach for the England U17s working with Tom Curtis and Omer Riza.

Arsenal

Football League First Division: 1988–89, 1990–91 FA Cup: 1992–93 Football League Cup: 1986–87, 1992–93 FA Charity Shield: 1991 (shared) Football League Centenary Trophy: 1988 European Cup Winners' Cup: 1993–94