Peterborough United derby hero on ‘that’ goal and why he’s returned to London Road

Simon Davies (centre) celebrates his winning goal at Northampton in 1999 with Adam Drury (left) and Matthew Etherington.

The wonderful 25 yard strike from ‘Digger’ which soared into the top corner of the Cobblers net for the only goal of an early-season Division Tree game at Sixfields in 1999 is one of the great Posh derby moments.

The 19 year-old was already a Posh superstar. The goal immediately propelled him to legend status.

But Davies remembers the feeling of jubilation better than he remembers the goal itself.

Posh teenage star Simon Davies won the League Two game at Sixfields in 199 with this 25-yard strike.

“I don’t remember too much about the goal at all,” Davies admitted.

“But I do remember how great it felt to score though, especially as it was the only goal in a tight game.

“I have seen the goal back recently though and I caught the shot quite well.

“It was certainly one of the highlights of my career.

“Obviously making my debut was something I will never forget, but to score the winner in a local derby has to rank quite high, along with playing in the Posh first team with mates like Matthew Etherington who had also come through the club’s Academy.”

Davies and Etherington were both part of the Posh team that reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup in the 1997-98 season before turning professional.

Davies made his first-team debut as a half-time substitute in a 3-1 Division Three defeat at Hull aged 18 in January, 1988.

He went on to play 75 times for the club, scoring six goals, before he and Etherington were sold to Spurs for a combined fee of £1.2 million in December 1999.

Davies went on to enjoy an outstanding Premier League career with Spurs, Everton, Fulham and the Welsh national team before retiring just shy of 450 senior matches with 42 goals to his name.

He made 58 international apperarances, scoring six goals.

Davies is now back at London Road working alongside Etherington with the Posh Under 18 side.

“I wanted to give something back to the club,” Davies added. “I owe Peterborough a lot for giving me the opportunity as a player and me and Matthew wanted to try and help the club and the academy that was so good to us.

“Coaching is rewarding when you see the development in players and at this club there is a real pathway through to the first team from the Academy as you have seen with Ricky-Jade Jones, Flynn Clarke, Harrison Burrows and many others. Yes, we want to do well in the league like we did last season, but the goal is developing players for the first team.”