TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved former Irish football international and Droitwich resident who has died at the age of 92.
Davy Walsh moved to The Spa in 1946 while he was playing for West Bromwich Albion and, after falling in love with both the town and Eileen, a girl from Droitwich, he called it his ‘second home’.
Davy made the move across the Irish Sea from Waterford because he just loved to play football and, at the time in Ireland, it was shunned for being a ‘foreign sport’.
His daughter Amanda Stuart told The Standard: “He was in Birmingham living in digs when he first arrived in England and was extremely homesick.
He was asked to deliver a bottle of whisky to a woman in Droitwich who was from Ireland and had married a man from the town.
She invited him to stay after lunch and that’s how he met her daughter Eileen,
Droitwich became the centre of Davy’s world. He opened two shops on Queens Street and Ombersley Road after his move to Aston Villa.
He kept all his international caps in the cabinet of his shop.
Amanda said: “By the time I was born, he wasn’t playing professionally, so I had no idea my dad was a famous footballer.
“He was always so modest.”
Davy scored 14 goals in 34 games for the Irish national teams and also made history when he moved from Limerick to Linfield in 1943, becoming the first Catholic footballer to play for a Protestant team.
“Dad was more philosophical than radical and essentially felt Catholic and Protestant was the same thing.
“I never ever heard him refer to anyone as Catholic or Protestant, he never ever passed judgement.
“He was a very old fashioned gent without a bad word to say about anyone.”
After signing for The Baggies for £3,500, he scored 100 goals in four years before moving to Aston Villa for £25,000 in 1950. There he scored 40 goals and he retired in 1957 after a spell with Walsall who he joined in 1956.
Amanda said she was 11 years old when she discovered three huge scrap books full of newspaper cuttings and match reviews.
“I was amazed at the paparazzi photos of mum and dad when they go married – but he never spoke about any of it unless asked.”
Davy was also approached and asked about sponsorship deals by big name companies which wanted their brands associated with him.
By the age of 25, Davy had taught himself to play golf and became the captain of Droitwich Golf Club. When he joined Thurlestone Golf Club in Devon at 60, he went on to hold the record for the most holes in one.
Davy also became the chairman of Droitwich Round Table, a group which held events to raise money for charity.
Droitwich resident Eric Baylis, 97, a former cricket umpire, said: “Davy used to give us equipment at trade price because he wanted to help the young footballers in Droitwich as much as he could – this was his passion.
“He was a top class man.”
Former Droitwich resident Nick Hull said: “Me and my brothers were always in Davey Walsh’s – it was the only place in Droitwich to go for sports equipment.”
Davy played for both Northern and Republic of Ireland teams. He was playing for the latter in 1949 when it became the first international team to beat England 2-0 at home.
Davy and Eileen had two children – Amanda, who grew up to become the first female managing director of a top 20 advertising agency – and David, a property developer who tragically passed away in 2014.
Amanda said: “Mum died in 2012 and this was very hard because she was very much the powerhouse.
“No one ever thought he’d survive very long without her, but he did.
“Sadly, my brother died two years ago and I think that’s when it got too much.
“He couldn’t understand this and I heard he’d say ‘why David and not me?”
Amanda said: “He never criticised anyone but when it came to sport, he’d expect you to pick up a golf club for the first time and just know how to use it.”
Davy would have turned 93 next Thursday (April 28).
He is survived by his daughter Amanda, and by five grandchildren.
