The family of Fred Davies, a man who spent over four decades rescuing stray soccer balls from the River Severn using a traditional coracle boat, is calling for a statue to be erected in his honor. Davies became a beloved figure in Shrewsbury, England, for his unique job of launching onto the water whenever balls were kicked out of Shrewsbury Town's former stadium, Gay Meadow, from the 1940s until the 1980s.
Davies' remarkable work was made even more impressive by the challenging nature of coracles themselves. These circular vessels require skillful navigation using just a single oar for both steering and paddling. Despite the difficulty, Davies mastered the craft and became internationally recognized for his unusual profession.
"I can go abroad and we mention about soccer and where we're from and everyone has heard of granddad - so it just goes to show it was a unique job that he actually did," said his granddaughter, Wendy Thorne. She emphasized the global recognition her grandfather received, highlighting how his story has spread far beyond the local community.
The family believes Davies deserves a permanent tribute to commemorate his contributions to the town's history. "What we think would be lovely is a statue of some kind, either at the soccer stadium or somewhere by the river, just to keep a fitting tribute of him and keep his memory alive," Thorne explained. "We really think he's a legend, and he deserves to be remembered in that way."
Davies continued his ball-retrieving work well into his golden years, only retiring when he was approximately 72 years old. He earned modest compensation for his services, receiving about 50 cents per ball recovered from the river. According to Thorne, her grandfather genuinely enjoyed the work, and it served a dual purpose as his method of gaining entry to watch the soccer matches.
"He loved it, it was his way of getting in to watch the match as well," Thorne told reporters. "He's legendary for doing it." The family's devotion to preserving his memory is evident even in death - Davies' headstone features an engraving of a coracle, symbolizing the work that defined much of his life.
Davies' legacy continues to be celebrated in various ways throughout Shrewsbury. The Coracle Pub, located next to the River Severn, displays a photograph of Davies on its interior wall, serving as a daily reminder of his contributions to local history. The establishment's name itself pays homage to the traditional boats that Davies used in his unique profession.
This Saturday, The Coracle Society will organize a race on the River Severn specifically named in Davies' honor, bringing together enthusiasts of the traditional watercraft. Thorne anticipates the event will evoke strong memories of her grandfather's time on the river. "It'll bring it all back... when granddad was on the river," she said. "There's going to be some fun, there's going to be some laughs, because there's going to be a lot of people probably going in the river." The race promises to combine celebration with the inevitable mishaps that come with navigating the challenging circular boats, much as Davies experienced during his decades of service to the local soccer community.
