Printer-friendly pageFriday, October 19, 2007
Today, Saints fans launch an appeal entitled 'Give it to Ron' which hopes to raise around £10,000 to help Ron Davies undergo at least one replacement hip operation and possibly two.
Now 65, Davies - who scored 153 goals in 277 appearances for Saints between 1966 and 1973 - was still working until recently when he was laid off because he became too sick with his hip injury to work.
Speaking from his home in Albuquerque, Davies said: "I just want to say to the Saints fans I am so proud to have played for you'.
"The hip is getting worse and worse. I lost my regular job through it and if I don't get a new one soon then I could be in a wheelchair in three or four months.
"It is my left hip which is the leg I used to take off with and I remember Dr Ramsey telling me when I was 25 that when I would not be able to walk by the time I was in my fifties or sixties.
"At the time I did not think anything of it because I was young and all I wanted to do was play football and score goals for Southampton.
"But he was right. I am really struggling with it now and I just want the Saints fans to know I really appreciate what they are doing."
"I always knew they were special when I was playing but to think they still remember me all these years later and are prepared to help me, that just shows how incredible they are."
Eighty per cent of his operation's costs will be funded by the State of New Mexico while thet Professional Footballer's Association Benevolent Fund could also help.
The Give it to Ron' campaign aims to cover any shortfall in his medical bills and cover his convalescence costs.
It is likely that the ex-Welsh international will need the second hip replacing in 2008, though that is not yet confirmed.
The 'Give it to Ron' campaign was launched in response to the lack of activity after all last October's publicity in the Echo about his plight.
It was the brainchild of a group of Saints supporters headed up by Duncan Holley, Saints' Official Historian who is Chairman of the Give it to Ron committee.
Holley was initially contacted by a Kent-based Saints fan named James Wallace.
The fund has been launched today partly because Davies used to play for Cardiff as well and the Bluebirds are Sunday's visitors to St Mary's.
Sunday's programme price has been increased by 50p to £3.50 with Saints donating the extra monies to the Give it to Ron' appeal.
A special interview with Davies - who scored 37 Division One goals in 1966/67, Saints' first ever season in the top flight - and archive footage of him playing for the club will be shown on the big screens prior to kick off.
Davies, who was always a great artist, has done his own bit to help by sketching a head and shoulders cartoon of another Saints legend, Matthew Le Tissier.
Anyone donating money to the fund will be entered into a competition with the caricature, signed by Davies, offered as a prize to the first 277 names (the amount of games Davies played for Saints) drawn out of a hat.
An excellent website - www.giveittoron.co.uk - has been launched enabling fans to find out more about Davies' great career and to donate.
In addition, donations can be posted to Sarah Luker, Give it to Ron, St Mary's Stadium, Britannia Road, Southampton SO14 5FP or at the Saints Megastore or West Quay store - please make your cheques payable to "Give it to Ron".
