OC Legend and OCC Football President

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Nigel Davies, who has died aged 71, was a very prominent figure in the rise of the Old Chigwellians’ Football Club following the establishment of the Old Chigwellians Club, the OC club house and grounds in the 1980s.  He was an active, passionate, and loyal supporter of all things ‘Chigwellian’.

Born in Antwerp in 1953 to Army parents, and one of four brothers, Nigel attended school from 1964 to 1970, along with his brothers Carl and Duncan, who were twins.  His eldest brother, Martin, attended Brentwood School.  Nigel’s father served in the British Army of the Rhine during the cold war and after leaving the Army in 1954, entered the banking profession and became head cashier at Barclays until his retirement in 1983.

Nigel was a hugely enthusiastic and supportive Old Chigwellian, particularly so in respect of the football club, whether it was organising, administering or playing.  Persuasive in the tackle, if never really comfortable in the air, the irrepressible Nigel saw himself as a ball-playing overlapping full back and dead-ball tactician.  With a (self-described) wand of a left foot, and his right generally used only for standing, he favoured positions on the left side of the field rather than the modern day penchant for left footers playing on the right.  Never quite making the cut for regular first team football, Nigel was a football club stalwart in the 2nd and lower teams over many years before becoming arguably the most successful ever captain of the Veterans, before injuries finally took their toll and he retired from the field of play.

Nigel was a lifelong Spurs supporter.  To his eternal credit, his captaincy of the OC Vets resulted in more trophies, or ‘gold leaf’ as Nigel was fond of saying, than his beloved Spurs during the same period, winning both the AFA Veterans Cup in 1995 and the ‘Vets Dunn’ in 1998 for the first time in the Club’s history.

Away from the pitch, he was the President of the Football Club for almost 3 decades – the longest serving president ever and a fantastic figurehead and ambassador.  He sat on various committees, including the Old Chigwellians Association and the Old Chigwellians Club.  He steadfastly supported a wide range of OC events and all events at the OC Club.  In common with many, he enjoyed a beer after a game and became quite proficient in downing a yard of ale – even managing to beat a professional drinker, who had been invited to the club as part of one of the many commemorative parties that we used to hold.

He relished organising annual Football Club suppers.  Resplendent in OC tie and jacket, Nigel was in his element as Master of Ceremonies, directing proceedings with military planning and clipboard in hand - but with timing that always seemed to overrun.  After Keith Mitchell had provided us all with the answers to last year’s quiz, a guest speaker was lined up, often a legend of the professional game, and all were required to wear an Old Chigwellians Club tie, no excuses.  Nigel was determined that they would never forget where they’d been for the evening.

Nigel met his future wife, Gay, in the Canary Islands during one summer holiday in 1982.  It was a whirlwind romance and they were engaged two months later.  I remember Nigel at school as being always immaculately turned out, a quality that stayed with him for the rest of his life - rarely did he even go onto the football pitch without combing his hair or checking the drape of his kit in the mirror.  It was perhaps this and undoubtedly his charm which attracted Gay and they were married in 1984.  While, presentationally, he may have well have appeared to be bronzed Essex man, Nigel was generously embraced by Gay’s large and very welcoming extended family back home in Dublin, which was where Nigel and Gay planned to settle down.  Although the plan was never fully executed, it was well road tested following Nigel’s decision to organise an annual Vets tour to Dublin, where he was able to lean heavily on local contacts in the form of Gay’s extended family.  The tour passed off very successfully.

Away from the OC Club, Nigel had a long career in the civil service, working for the Department of Work and Pensions.  He was a computer specialist, working on projects in the IT department at various locations Wembley, Stratford and Ilford and was able to put his IT skills to good use for the OCs in the early days of the OC Club.  In 2004 the DWP IT operation was outsourced to BT.  Nigel ran a major IT upgrade project - Project Refresh from 2009.  He retired from full time work in 2013.

Always warm and generous to everyone who visited the OC Club – opposition, officials, the bar staff, new joiners to teams, youngsters – he had time for everyone.  And nobody left the Club without saying goodbye to Nigel.  He was kind, funny, generous, with a twinkle in his eye. He had a unique ability to make you feel ten feet tall.  He was never bothered by your background or status.  He treated everyone the same.  He would look you straight in the eyes, firm handshake, ‘Hi I’m Nigel Davies, Old Chigwellians, Home of Football’.  He wore his heart on his sleeve and we all loved him for it.  All opposition clubs recognised his human touch – with one typically observing his “towering presence in the Club and knack for being able to connect with everyone”.

Although he played football for many years and generally looked after himself, Nigel suffered more than his fair share of poor health over the years.  He recovered well from the many operations he endured, including 7 stents in his heart, a nephrectomy, 2 new hips and knee surgery.  Sadly, he wasn’t able to win his long battle against cancer although he fought it throughout with candour, stoicism and humour and he maintained his poise to the end.

Nigel had several nicknames, including ‘Dog’ (don’t ask) and ‘Shuffle’ (after his trademark, expansive step-over on the field of play) but he was mainly and affectionately known as ‘Pop’ by most.  A memorial service in his honour was held in the school chapel in May this year.  The very large turnout was a testament to his popularity and the love and respect with which he is held.  Pop is survived by his wife, Gay.

Nigel ‘Pop’ Davies, born 12 May 1953, died 3 April 2024.