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And now Davies is back for more, after re-signing from Reading on a season-long at Aldershot. The young Irishman is raring to go - and hoping for more dramatic success with The Shots.
"It's great to be back," said Davies. "I was at the Crystal Palace friendly recently [Davies was collecting his Blue Square goal of the season award for THAT goal at Torquay] and all the fans were very welcoming. They congratulated me on my new contract at Reading and said they hoped to see me back at Aldershot as a player. Now it's official and I really think we can do well in League Two.
"If I hadn't joined The Shots I would have put a bet on for them to reach the play-offs at least. We have a strong squad and we believe in each other. The new guys have clearly settled in quickly. I played with Marvin Morgan briefly at Yeading and you could really see his potential then."
Davies' destination for season 2008-09 had been unclear throughout the summer, however, with the player admitting that he considered other options to first Reading — and then Aldershot.
"Reading offered me a new one-year contract two months ago but I was wary of signing. I was considering a fresh start, especially if I could win a two-year contract elsewhere.
"But Steve Coppell insisted that I was part of his future plans, especially if I had another good season on loan. So I signed."
With Aldershot's promotion to League Two, The Shots were an option and Gary Waddock renewed his interest. But Davies had other offers too.
"I spoke to both Yeovil Town and AFC Bournemouth," said Davies. "But it was a very easy decision to come back to Aldershot. I cannot praise Gary Waddock and Martin Kuhl enough. Gary spoke to me a few times over the summer and made it clear he wanted me.
"Gary allows you to play football without fear. He encourages youngsters to do what you want most, to play your football, and show the crowd what you can do."
Davies is currently still recovering from a heel operation but is confident that he will be back in contention for a place in Aldershot's team by the middle of August.
"I was told when I had the operation that the recovery period is between three to six months," said Davies. "But I'm young and fit. I've had a four-month period in mind, which comes around on August 14th."
Waddock is more cautious regarding Davies and expects him to be available by the end of August. When Davies does return, he faces stiff competition in midfield from Ben Harding, Scott Donnelly and Lewis Chalmers, not to mention wide players like Kirk Hudson and Louie Soares.
"It's going to be tough in midfield but we are the best of mates," said Davies. "No one bears a grudge if one of the other guys is picked ahead of you. Besides, competition is healthy, it cannot be anything but of benefit to the team."
Davies was one of Waddock's first-choice central midfielders early last season and enjoyed a spectacular goal-scoring start to his Aldershot career. But suspension and injury, plus the emergence of Harding in the centre meant that Davies spent much of the second half of the season on the right of midfield, when available and picked.
"I'd definitely say that central midfield is my best position as I can burst through and score," said Davies. "But I just want to be on the pitch. If that means playing on the right, that's fine."
If Davies is keen to be on the pitch, he must stop being sent off it. Three times last season he saw red, first for throwing the ball at an opponent at Cambridge and then for bad tackles at Grays and Droylsden. In all, he was suspended for 13 games.
"I won't be getting sent off this season," said Davies. It may be tempting fate and a little naïve to say that but, in fairness to Davies, all three offences were rash rather than malicious, and he appears to have learnt his lesson.
"I was stupid at Cambridge and I have learnt from the bad tackles," said Davies. "I went to the FA and got a bit of a rollicking but I apologised and know I must change. It won't happen again."
Perhaps his problem is that, rather like another ginger-haired attacking midfielder, Paul Scholes, Davies struggles to time a tackle. Hopefully a third ginger-haired midfielder - Waddock - can teach Davies the right technique.
"I've spoken to Scott about his discipline and I know Steve Coppell at Reading has too," said Waddock. "It can't happen again. If it does, Scott knows that the FA will throw the book at him."
But Waddock also knows that Davies has the potential to be one of the brightest young talents in League Two this season. He scored 11 goals last season — and few would bet against some more net-busters from Davies in League Two this time around.
For the full article and reaction from Gary Waddock on the Leyton Orient friendly, click on the link below:
http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/sport/