Slipped Through the Net: Aidan Davison

By: Dan Humphrey
Date: 23/01/2001

In the first of a new series "Slipped Through The Net", Dan Humphrey takes a look at former Grimsby players still plying their trade elsewhere within the game. This week Dan takes a look at Aidan Davison, the Mariner's keeper throughout the Wembley double season of 1997-98.

Admittedly it was a great season, with promotion and cup runs (including Wembley (pictured below), Anfield and Elland Road), but Davison decided it was time to leave less than a year later, and was entitled to on a Bosman free transfer.

A farcical situation ensued. Understandably, manager Alan Buckley was reluctant to play a want-away player. Davison was dropped towards the end of the 1998-99 season and teenagers Steve Croudson and Andy Love tried out for his place. Baptisms of fire? Not really, as Croudson excelled, and was rewarded with a permanent slot in the squad.

And what happened to Davison? Obviously he could not cope with regular first team football, so after an unsuccessful spell at Chelsea, he returned to the reserve team scene, back to Bradford, to once more, become an understudy - this time to Matt Clarke and Gary Walsh.

However, as one door closes.... Buckley moved quickly to sign yet another free transfer 'keeper, in Tranmere's Danny Coyne. And for the third time in recent history, the Mariners keeper was a Buckley freebie find, (Paul Crichton, Davison, Coyne), arguably each one better than the next.

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