Editing Steven Davis (section)

===Aston Villa===
Davis, who was born in [[Ballymena]], County Antrim, started his career at St Andrews Boys Club in the [[DAWFL]], before transferring to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in 2002.<ref name="Fulham transfer" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishfa.com/international/squad-profiles/profile/2014/senior/steven-davis-midfielder/ |title=Profile of Steven Davis |publisher=Irish Football Association |access-date=12 May 2011 |archive-date=31 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531141557/http://www.irishfa.com/international/squad-profiles/profile/2014/senior/steven-davis-midfielder/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was a member of the [[2002 FA Youth Cup]] winning team that beat [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] 4–2 in the final.<ref name="overview" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1995546.stm |title=Villa lift FA Youth Cup |date=18 May 2002 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> His first professional appearance was on 18 September 2004, he was a 57th-minute replacement for [[Nolberto Solano]] in a goalless [[Premier League]] match against [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] at [[Carrow Road]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3647082.stm | title=Norwich 0–0 Aston Villa | work= BBC Sport | date= 18 September 2004}}</ref> Davis made 28 league appearances across the [[2004–05 Premier League|season]], scoring the winner in a 3–2 comeback victory at [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] on 16 April 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=Southampton 2–3 Aston Villa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4427547.stm |access-date=9 October 2015 |work=BBC Sport |date=16 April 2005}}</ref>

On 13 August 2005, in Villa's first game of the new campaign, Davis volleyed past [[Jussi Jääskeläinen]] to secure a 2–2 home draw against [[Bolton Wanderers]], albeit after nine minutes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aston Villa 2–2 Bolton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4126966.stm |access-date=9 October 2015 |work=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2005}}</ref> He scored twice on 20 September in the third round of the [[Football League Cup]], as Villa won 8–3 at [[Wycombe Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Wycombe 3–8 Aston Villa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/4258542.stm |access-date=9 October 2015 |work=BBC Sport |date=20 September 2005}}</ref> By October 2005, he was a regular for the club and missed only one game for Villa in the [[2005–06 Aston Villa F.C. season|2005–06 season]].<ref name="overview" /> Davis was named Villa's "Young Player of the Year", "The Fans Player of the Year" ''and'' "Player of the Year" for the 2005–06 season.<ref name="overview" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishfa.com/news/item/2176/davis-cleans-up-at-villa-awards/ |title=Davis cleans up at Villa awards |date=5 May 2006 |publisher=Irish Football Association |access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> His form prompted the Northern Ireland manager [[Lawrie Sanchez]], to state that Davis could be "another [[Frank Lampard]]".<ref>{{cite news |title=Sanchez says Davis could emulate Lampard |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/sanchez-says-davis-could-emulate-lampard-318798.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/sanchez-says-davis-could-emulate-lampard-318798.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |date=20 August 2005 |first=Kieran |last=Daley |access-date=5 December 2013}}</ref> Davis made 102 appearances for Villa and scored nine times.<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35928|2007|name=Steven Davis Aston Villa Stats|access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> On 2 January 2006, he headed the first goal of a 2–1 win at rivals [[West Bromwich Albion]].<ref>{{cite news |title=West Brom 1–2 Aston Villa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4562606.stm |access-date=9 October 2015 |work=BBC Sport |date=2 January 2006}}</ref>