YouTube Video of Ron Davies – An Appeal

[lifeintheslowlane]

Yesterday was a very sad day for all we older Saints fans but along with all the happy memories of the "Big Man" there's a certain amount of bitterness that there is not more about the man on the Internet.

 

Three years ago I contacted Duncan Holley because the YouTube video of Ron scoring his 4 goals at Old Trafford had gone missing and I thought if anyone had a copy, Duncan would be the man. Sure enough Duncan came up with the goods; the highlights from ITV’s “The Big Match” and an interview with the man himself. The footage had been copied from a VHS tape onto a CD ROM and was of a good quality so I set about uploading it to YouTube.

 

This is where I ran into difficulties. Although the CD ROM would play well enough on my PC when I tried to upload it to YouTube it wouldn’t recognise the video format. I transferred it to Window Video Maker hoping this would convert the original format into something I could upload.

 

To cut a long story short this threw up more problems than it solved. Finally a mate offered to come around and we’d video the footage from my PC screen and upload it that way.

 

So what you see today on YouTube is an inferior copy of the original Duncan supplied. The events of this week have just gone to remind me of the poor quality of just about the only Internet footage of Ron Davies in his prime.

 

What we need from you is someone experienced in video transfer…possibly a professional in this field who can finally do the “Big Man” justice.

 

A reminder of what was uploaded:

 

Part 1 – Edited highlights

 

Part 2 – Big Match Interview

[Saint_clark]

I'll send you a PM with my email address to send the file to, changing video format is actually fairly straightforward.

[lifeintheslowlane]

I'll send you a PM with my email address to send the file to, changing video format is actually fairly straightforward.

 

Hmmm yep that's what I thought when I started but it was an ancient file extension; can't remember exactly what it was as I lost it in a computer melt-down a couple of years ago. The original will have to be retrieved from Duncan so you can have a go with it.

 

Hope we can get a good quality version uploaded. I reply to your PM shortly.

[suewhistle]

Thanks guys, keep us informed.

[RonManager]

As you say, there's not much in the way of moving images of Ron, or that I can find anyway on You Tube etc.

 

For those interested/don't already know, there are some clips of him playing and scoring on the BBC video 'Match of the Day: Southampton'.

 

It would be great to put these and the Man U clips etc into a programme of sorts.

[Mister Neil]

From the DVD. Video quality not brilliant (may try again later).

 

http://youtu.be/o4LsCquQWzI

[sussexsaint]

Fantastic mate, enjoyed that

[david in sweden]

Despite the scratchy old black and white video format, it is also a good history lesson for younger fans who only knew those players as names from the past.

 

 

Gerry Gurr : a teenage keeper when signed, later got his chance (after Eric Martin was injured) and played for a season, (even getting tipped for U23 honours), butsadly injured a shoulder in a Reserve game the following season and had to quit.

 

Ken Jones : Tough Yorkshire-born full back who was a regular during the late 1960's. Not top class maybe, but highly dependable at the back.

 

Denis Hollywood: Scots-born " Baby-face " Denis was much tougher than he looked, as many wingers found when coming up against him . When Denis really tackled someone, they seldom walked away easily, and might even end up in the crowd.

 

Hugh Fisher : Architect of Blackpool's 5-1 massacre of Saints in Dec.1966 (at The Dell). Ted Bates bought him 3 months later and Hughie played 350+ games in next 10 years - (unlucky not to play in the 1976 FA Cup win, which he'd help to engineer in every round).

 

John McGrath: the ultimate tough CB - John's motto could have been " thou shall not pass". Reputedly hit his head against wall before starting every game and trained on raw steak. Terrified everyone he came up against ....but was a joy to watch.

 

Jimmy Gabriel : Former Everton legend, wonderful passer of the ball and a top class player. The most versatile player I've ever seen in a Saints side. Played in 6 diff. shirts one season and even filled in as emergency goalie (in pre-sub days.)

 

Terry Paine : say no more. 19 caps for England / 1966 World Cup winger (whilst a Div.2 player) and 800+ games for Saints. Most perfect passer of the ball and source of many of Davies (and others) goals. Must have had world record for assists in his day.

 

Frank Saul : FA Cup winner with Spurs, then came as part-ex when Martin Chivers went to WHL (1967). Passed well and often looked good in Cup games , but never really a regular first team scorer.

 

Ron Davies : THE MAN. (read the hundreds of other tributes else where), Seemed to move in slow motion and yet often jumped head and shoulders above defenders. Best Saints CF of my time - bar none.

 

Tony Byrne: much under-rated and under-used Irish Republic midfield / defender who played just 100 games Saints in almost 10 years. However, Ted Bates often used him to man-mark George Best whenever we played Man.U...and GB never scored against him.....

 

John Sydenham: (With TP ) -the other " wing-twin " of the 1960's era. This game has been described as John's best ever perfomance. A former So'ton Schools sprint champion, the film shows his amazing turn of pace and inate ability to leave defenders " for dead ".

 

 

This team was the basis of our first Div.1 soujourn (1966-1973) - not always at their best, and often struggled a lot..... but were always entertaining to watch.

Edited 31 May, 2013 by david in sweden
spelling !

[Wes Tender]

From the DVD. Video quality not brilliant (may try again later).

 

http://youtu.be/o4LsCquQWzI

 

Video quality much improved on the earlier one I watched when the news of Ron Davies' death came to light. Thank you for your efforts.

[SNOWY]

Well done Neil, much appreciated.