[3] He began his senior football career at Scot Symon's East Fife and quickly gained praise as a tough tackling, no-nonsense defender, but was drafted for national service in 1951 and shunned easier alternative postings to join the Black Watch.
[4][6] Whilst in the army he fought in the Korean War and was seriously injured on the battlefield; he spent two years in hospitals recuperating from bullet wounds to his abdomen and foot.
[7][2][3] While recovering from his injuries, Davis was determined not just to live a 'normal' life but to be extremely fit and overcome any challenge, the first being the medical opinion that he would no longer be able to play professional football.
[4][1] His progress impressed David Kinnear, a physiotherapist at the facility who had once played for Rangers, now managed by Scot Symon,[3][2][7] and as a result of the mutual connections Davis signed for the reigning Scottish league champions at the age of 22.
[2][6][1] Immediately after his playing days ended, Davis had a three-year spell as manager of Queen's Park in Scotland's second tier.