By Paul Holland
October 25 2002

JOHN EDWARD 'TEDDY' DAVISON (1932-52)

Although Davison's height was only 5ft 7n. he became an excellent goalkeeper with the Wednesday, making 424 League and Cup apperances and winning one England Cap. Davison was manager of Chesterfield when they were promoted to the Second Division in 1931 and, one year later, he was appointed as Blades first secretery manager. Under Davison, United were relegated for the first time in 1934, reached the cup final in 1936, and narrowly missed out on promotion in that same season and again in 1938. Davison signed Jimmy Hagan from Derby County in November 1938 and United returned to Division One taking the Second Division Promotion Position by one point from local rivals, Wednesday.

United paid far more attention, during the early years of Davison's period of office, in developing local young players, and the fruits of that policy were particulary evident during the 1945-46 season were United won the League North Campionship and also in the following season when United challenged strongly won both League and Cup. That fine team was broken up and Davison made severill ill-fated moves in the transfer market. United were relegated again in 1949 but Davison now brought well, and when he decieded in 1952 that a younger man was needed at the Lane, he was able to pass on, to his own suggested successor, and excellent team.

Summery of this managers League Record...

Played 546
Won 226
Drawn 129
Lost 191
For 939
Against 862