Jimmy Davis (footballer)

He played numerous times for the youth and reserve sides at United and was part of the team that won the Manchester Senior Cup in May 2000.

He had a short spell on loan at Belgian club Royal Antwerp in 2001 before returning to United and making his senior debut in a League Cup tie against Arsenal during the 2001–02 season.

[5] He played football from an early age, firstly with a Cubs team, and then with junior sides of local clubs Feckenham and Knowle.

[2] On 25 September, Davis scored a hat-trick in the FA Premier Academy League under-19 match against Stoke City;[8] United won the game 5−0.

[10] On 2 May, he played in the Manchester Senior Cup final at Boundary Park; he replaced Darren Fletcher as United won 2−0 against Oldham Athletic.

[8] In late 2000, Davis joined Belgian Pro League club Royal Antwerp on loan until the end of the season.

[15][18] He would make a further four appearances for the club, the last coming in the league win against KSC Lokeren on the 31 March,[15][19] before his loan deal was ended a few days later due to adjustment difficulties.

[8] He was a mainstay in the reserves for the rest of the season,[8] apart from the UEFA Champions League second group stage match against Deportivo La Coruña in March, when he was again an unused substitute.

[33][34] On 6 May, he scored for the reserves in the win against Sheffield Wednesday, and two days later he featured in final game of the season against Middlesbrough, but ultimately United could only finish in eighth place in the league.

[36][37] He played four more times during pre-season, scoring in the 3−0 win against Aldershot Town, and making his final appearance against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

On 2 May 1999, he featured in the quarter-final defeat against host nation Czech Republic; he replaced Jamie McMaster in the 86th minute as England lost 1−0 after extra time.

[40] Davis made his debut for the England under-20s in November 2001; he started the win against Portugal at St Mary's Stadium before being replaced by Andrew Johnson.

[38] He was driving his BMW 3 Series from his home in Redditch to attend Watford's opening game of the season against Coventry City that afternoon.

[45] At around 4:30 a.m., his car hit the back of a 32-ton articulated lorry while travelling southbound on the M40 in Oxfordshire, and Davis was later pronounced dead at the scene.

[45][48] His car hit the back of Portuguese driver Paulo Dos Santos' lorry, who described feeling a shuddering impact, and was embedded halfway into the vehicle.

[48] It is unknown why Davis departed his home so early, but his family believed it was so he could avoid traffic and get a decent sleep at his air-conditioned hotel in Watford due to it being a warm night.

[49][50] His coffin was carried in to the music of Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio;[51] a song Davis sang for his initiation after signing for Watford.

[46] His sister Kate, girlfriend Melissa Coupe, and best friend Timothy Wilkes all gave readings of stories and poems.

Manchester United paid tribute to him during their 2003 FA Community Shield victory against Arsenal, with both teams wearing black armbands during the match.