Irish football legend Eddie Davis dies aged 96
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Irish football legend Eddie Davis dies aged 96

IRISH football legend Eddie Davis, who once scored nine goals in a cup final, has died peacefully in his home in Derry at the age of 96.

According to the Derry Journal, Davis carved out a unique career which saw him make his senior debut for Distillery against his hometown club Derry City at the age of just 12.

It was the beginning of a long, successful career on both sides of the Irish Sea as he went on to play for Cork City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Limerick and Southend United.

Davis’ time at Southend was cut short by the beginning of World War II, so he returned to his native Derry where he would become a Brandywell icon after signing for the Candystripes.

His finest moment in a Derry City short came in North West Cup Final as, remarkably, Davis scored all nine goals in 9-1 win over Coleraine.

After retiring at the age of 32, Davis went on to become a respected scout for European giants Celtic and Manchester United, who called on the Irishman as an Irish talent spotter to help re-build their squad following the tragic Munich air disaster in 1958.

Davis was also used as a scout by Middlesborough and Bradford City. He passed away at home on Argylle Street on Wednesday evening.