David Davis

David Lowell Davis (born 20 February 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Forest Green Rovers.

Having trained with Walsall's Centre of Excellence as a boy, and then played local football for Tividale, Davis began a scholarship in Wolverhampton Wanderers' youth academy in 2007. He turned professional in 2009, and made his senior debut the same year while on loan to Darlington of League Two. He spent time on loan at three other clubs in the lower leagues – Walsall and Chesterfield of League One and League Two Shrewsbury Town – as well as at Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle, before making seven appearances for Wolves in the Premier League at the end of the 2011–12 season during their unsuccessful fight against relegation. Although playing fairly regularly in the Championship, he never established himself as a consistent member of the starting eleven as Wolves were again relegated. He fell out of favour the following season, and left for West Midlands neighbours Birmingham City in August 2014.

On joining Walsall as a 19-year-old, Davis described himself as "the type of player who likes to break things down and do what I call the 'nitty-gritty'. I like to get stuck in and work hard". He is primarily a defensive midfielder, reportedly priding himself on "ball-winning ground-covering defensive midfield work"; his major contribution to his team comes from "flying around midfield winning the ball and disrupting the opposition". Lee Clark suggested he looks best when using his power and strength and keeping his use of the ball simple. Dean Saunders mentioned his "winning mentality"; according to the Birmingham Mail's Brian Dick, "when Blues are down no-one leads by example quite as much as Davis".