Oakwood pay tribute to Rob Davidson

Ric Blank writes: Everyone at Oakwood is incredibly sad at Rob's passing. Rob was one on his own. A true individual who touched so many lives with his infectious personality and many idiosyncrasies. 

Rob was one of my first signings and without doubt one of my best. He was tough as they come - a rugby player at heart - and one of the most popular players in the dressing room. He was the heart and soul of the club for those early years and I have so many happy memories of nights out on a Thursday and getting stuck in together on a Sunday.

Rob could never be described as a talented player and whenever I criticised him in training he'd say to me, "I never said I was good. You're the shmock who keeps picking me." And everyone laughed. But Rob did himself a disservice. He may not have been skilful but on his best days he was a beast. A warrior. One of the last players you'd want to come up against. He would not have pulled out of a tackle with a lorry that boy. He had the respect of everyone - even if he was dreadful at five-a-side.

Yet his greatest challenge was not on the football pitch. It came when he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease aged 33. But as if he was going in for a 50-50 on a muddy pitch he did not shirk it. He embraced it and in doing so became an inspiration. His love of life and refusal to be beaten by this terrible disease was incredible. It brought us all closer together and reminded us of what a football club can be.