Jack Davison

Preceded by	Ireland Captain	Succeeded by
Donald Martin	1883-1885	William Eames

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'The gamest little player we have, great speed, has a thorough knowledge of the game, a fair shot at goal, feeds the outside-right well, has great staying power, undoubtedly our most popular forward.'
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Name: Dr. John Robert Davison BA MAO BCh
Born: 25 April 1860, Hunslet, Leeds (England)
Died: 17 September 1931, Belfast

Height:

Weight:
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Ireland: 8 Full Caps (1882-1885); Co. Antrim Representative; Belfast & District Representative.
Club Honours: (with Cliftonville) Irish Cup Winner 1882/83, Runner-Up 1880/81, 1881/82.

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Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Cliftonville	80/81-85/86	-	Amateur	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£-		-	-	-

Biography:
Born in Atkinson Street, Hunslet, Leeds, Jack Davison's father, Robert (1823-1897), a Flax Spinner Manager/Linen Merchant and director of the Norsk & Yamskoi Manufactories [Jaroslaw/Yaroslau, Russia], moved his family to Belfast to further his career. The Russian links were retained by the family.

A founding member of Cliftonville Football Club, Davison played in the first ever Irish Cup Final - finishing on the end of a 1-0 defeat by Moyola Park in 1881. Another defeat followed in 1882 before Cliftonville won the trophy in 1883 with Davison scoring the final goal in a 5-0 win over Ulster.

Eligible to play for Ireland under the five year residence rule, Davison played in Ireland's first international match and he was awarded the captaincy in 1883. His first match leading the team ended in a 1-1 draw with Wales - the first time Ireland had avoided defeat. He remained captain for the rest of his international career, five games in all, but could not repeat that initial success. His fifth appearance for Ireland, a 5-0 defeat by Scotland in Belfast on 26th January 1884, was the first British Championship match.

Away from football, Davison also took an interest in other sports. He was a member and trustee of the Ulster Bowling Club, and represented Ireland in international matches. As a cricketer, he was associated with the Ulster Cricket & Athletic Club, and as the oldest member he spoke at the celebratory dinner for their 1930 NCU Senior Cup win. He remained a member of Cliftonville Football and Athletic Club throughout his life.

Davison remained on the Ormeau Road for many years, his profession variously recorded as physician, surgeon, general practitioner and MD. On his marriage to Elizabeth "Lizzie" in 1893, his father-in-law had gifted him 281 Ormeau Road (aka "Romanov"). He retired in early 1930, and passed away the following year after several months of illness. The property remains a medical surgery to this day. 

Davison's son, Lt Robert Davison MC, "died of wounds received at Geudecort" in France while serving the King's Liverpool Regiment on 8th October 1916, aged just 20. He is buried at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, and also commemorated on the family burial ground at Belfast's City Cemetery.    

Ireland Cap Details: 

1. 18-02-1882 England. H L 0-13 FR
2. 25-02-1882 Wales... A L 1- 7 FR
3. 24-02-1883 England. A L 0- 7 FR
4. 17-03-1883 Wales... H D 1- 1 FR
5. 26-01-1884 Scotland H L 0- 5 BC
6. 09-02-1884 Wales... A L 0- 6 BC
7. 23-02-1884 England. H L 1- 8 BC
8. 28-02-1885 England. A L 0- 4 BC

Summary: 8/0. Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 7.

Inter-County/Inter City Representative Match Details:

1. 28-01-1882 Belfast 0-12 Ayrshire Association (Cliftonville)
2. 26-12-1882 Co. Down 1-1 Co. Antrim (Ballynafeigh)
3. 1883 Ayrshire - Belfast (Kilmarnock) (no further match details confirmed)
4. 26-12-1883 Co. Down 0-6 Co. Antrim (Ballynafeigh) (announced in line-up)
5. 26-12-1884 Co. Antrim 2-2 Co. Derry (Ballynafeigh)..

Additional details by George Glass.

The Davison family burial plot, City Cemetery, Belfast

Belfast Newsletter, Friday 18th September 1931