Cult Hero - (Big) Claude Davis

The word ‘refined’ usually brings with it positive connotations; of something that is artful and cultured, something which is ‘freed from impurities’ and that is subtle, precise and exact. Big Claude Davis is about as far from refined as can possibly be found on a football pitch, however there is nothing about that which means he should be looked upon negatively.

The Football League is home to some strong characters, absolute beasts of men who could curdle milk just by looking at it. It’s rough and it’s tough, where you have to both be strong of mind as well as in body to survive. Luckily strength is something the 6 ft 3 in Jamaican colossus is far from lacking in. Tougher than a $2 steak, Davis possesses a howitzer of a right foot, as well as the ability to almost burst a ball when he puts his head to it. Everything is full impact, nothing held back, when Claude hits you as a centre forward, you stay hit. Power, power, power, nothing is precision, everything full on. A tackle from the Crystal Palace centre back is like being hit by a 100 mile an hour steam roller. His telescopic legs, able to take the ball from an onrushing attacker who thinks they’ve already beaten him.

He’s a man not to be messed with. Furthermore, he’s a man not to be underestimated. During a three year spell with Preston North End he established himself as a rock at the heart of the defence, contributing in 2005/06 as the club achieved no less than 24 clean sheets in a season. He deservedly swept the board at the club's subsequent Player of the Season awards, named both the Player's Player and fans Player of the Season.

Managers, those within the game recognise what he brings to the table, even if fans can often be short sighted with their fixation on pointless ‘flicks and tricks’. Claude has demanded well over £6 million in transfer fees, but both his spells in the Premiership with Sheffield United and Derby County were sadly undermined by serious cartilage damage to his knee. This notably resulted in Derby fans branding him rather unfairly as ‘the worst major signing in the club’s history’ when that ignores all the players bought by Paul Jewell. And Mikkel beck. Besides, the overhyped and prima donna world of the Premiership was never ready for someone of Davis’ talents.

Big Claude is not a man to hide, and this season he has been reviving his reputation with a series of impressive and battling displays during a turbulent and often disheartening campaign at Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace fans will tell you this season, just how impressive he’s been, and finally, he seems to be getting the love and adulation that he so richly deserves.