Wed, May 16, 2001

Cool-headed Hotspur coach to chalk up 300

Davies By HEATH HARRISON

WHEN asked to nominate the qualities that have stood out in Kelvin Davies' 299-match career with Hotspurs, Ian Belgre doesn't hesitate.

Determination and a cool head.

The latter is a particularly rare commodity in soccer, with Perth Glory striker Bobby Despotovski and Melbourne Knights' fans the latest, but certainly not the last, to lose control.

``Kelvin rarely loses his temper,'' says Belgre, a team-mate, coach and friend of Davies for the past 16 years.

It's an opinion backed up with facts - Davies, the Hotspurs coach who plays his 300th senior match at Jelbart Park tonight, has been sent off just once in his playing career.

And that red card for a challenge on an Albury City player a few years ago was later reduced to a cautionary yellow at a tribunal hearing.

``It was a pretty physical match and it was a first offence, it should've been a yellow,'' he said yesterday.

That outstanding disciplinary record and a remarkable run with injuries has allowed Davies to notch the milestone in what must almost be record time for a Soccer Albury-Wodonga player.

``I've had rolled ankles and a few hamstring problems recently, but I've been naturally injury-free,'' he said.

Hotspurs' outstanding record has also helped hasten his climb to the 300.

Davies said the club had missed the finals just once since he and his older brothers - Steven and Brett - followed Belgre from the Border Soccer Club to Hotspurs in 1986.

Since then, the club has collected league titles in 1987, 1988, 1991 and 2000 and won the Cup in 1987, 1988 and 1999.

The 1999 Cup final was particularly sweet.

``We hadn't won anything for a while and beat United to win the Cup,'' he said.

Davies missed a penalty early in the match, but when the referee pointed to the spot later in the game, he bravely stood up again to take the spot kick.

And buried it.

Belgre said Spurs were blessed to have had players with the loyalty of Davies, Darrell Mills, Andy Harbick and Robbie Tuksar.

But he adds a footnote to his comments about the temperament of Davies, who he describes as an ornament to the game.

``When he does go off, he can go a bit crazy,'' he said.

``Everyone stays out of his way.''

Davies admits his fuse is indeed a very slow burner, but the Arsenal fan denies the Gunners' frittering away of the FA Cup on Sunday morning pushed him over the edge.

He was a little cranky though.

``It cost me a bottle of red wine, my brother Brett is a Liverpool supporter,'' he said.

You would reckon the Hotspurs would shout their coach a drink or two tonight.