Ex-Wales and Newcastle forward Davies dies aged 83

Ronald 'Wyn' Davies was part of the Newcastle United side that won the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

Former Wales forward Ronald 'Wyn' Davies has died aged 83.

Born in Caernarfon in 1942, Davies enjoyed an outstanding career in the 1960s and 70s playing for teams including Wrexham, Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and both Manchester clubs City and United.

Nicknamed 'Wyn the Leap' because of his heading ability, the 6ft 1in forward represented Wales 34 times, scoring six goals, while he is still revered at Newcastle where he was also known as 'The Mighty Wyn'.

A Football Association of Wales statement read: "The thoughts of everyone at the FAW are with the family and friends of Wyn Davies during this difficult time."

After starting his playing career, while working in a slate quarry, with local sides Locomotive Llanberis and Caernarfon Town, Davies signed for Wrexham in 1960 before being snapped up by Bolton.

Following his move to Bolton, Davies was first capped by Wales in October 1963 against England and made his last appearance against Poland in September 1973.

The first of his six international goals arrived in 1964, giving Wales an early lead in a 3-2 win against Scotland.

Davies' most famous strike, though, came in November 1966 - scoring Wales' only goal in a 5-1 defeat to an England side newly crowned as world champions.

After four seasons with Bolton, Newcastle snapped up Davies in 1966 for a then club record £80,000 fee and he was part of the famous Magpies side that won the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the competition which later became the Uefa Cup - the club's only major European silverware.

Malcolm Allen, like Davies a former striker for Wales and Newcastle, said he would always be remembered fondly at St James' Park.

"That tells me everything about the people up in Newcastle, that they still haven't forgotten Wyn Davies. He was a hero up there, and any player who plays for Manchester United, Bolton, Man City and Newcastle tells you everything about what a player he was," he said.

"He was a hero at all these clubs but he was a cult hero ever since he left Caernarfon - he's had streets named after him, and it [his death] was very sad... but he will be well remembered in what a great player he was.

"After speaking to him and getting to know him a bit better, I wanted to know what his secret was.

"Obviously I was never going to jump as high as him [Allen stands 5ft 8in] - he could jump and he could hover up there, look around and then head the ball towards the goal and normally score - but then he could use his head as a passing machine, he didn't just flick the ball on, he could pass the ball into people's pathways.

"That picture with Denis Law and George Best on the wall at Caernarfon Town Football Club sums it up, he's playing alongside legends of the game and that's how good he was... he was also a gentleman."

In 1971 Davies left for Manchester, playing first for City - where he won the 1972 FA Charity Shield and rekindled his striking partnership with ex-Bolton team-mate Francis Lee - and then United before departing for Blackpool in 1973.

Spells at Stockport County and Crewe Alexandra followed before Davies returned to Wales to finish his professional career at Bangor City in 1978-79 and then a short spell in South Africa with Cape Town City - hanging up his boots aged 37.

In his retirement, Davies worked as a baker in Bolton.