Sad start to the season

Last updated : 09 August 2003 By Tony Scholes

The player in question was Manchester United’s 21 year-old Jimmy Davis who had signed to play on loan for Watford for a season. Davis was involved in a traffic accident on the M40 in the early hours of this morning and was found dead at the scene.

Watford called off their opening day game against Coventry with players obviously in no state to go out and play.

Following this former Blackburn Rovers coach and manager Ray Harford, who also coached at a number of other clubs in his career, passed away today at the age of 58 after an unsuccessful fight against lung cancer.

Despite our rivalries there is no doubt that Harford was one of the top coaches in the country and clubs always seemed to have success when he was there. His last club Millwall won promotion two years ago with him as number two.

Our thoughts at this time are very much with the families and friends of both Jimmy Davis and Ray Harford and with the two clubs Watford and Manchester United who will be mourning the loss of Davis.