ALMOST two years since he last played for Down, Alan Davidson is back in the Mourne County frame – although it could be a while before he is available to boss Paddy Tally.
The former Irish League midfielder was first drafted onto the Down panel by Eamonn Burns in early 2017, and made an immediate impact with some eye-catching performances during the Dr McKenna Cup.
However, he found his opportunities limited through the National League and wasn’t involved in the Championship run that took Down to an unlikely Ulster final that summer.
It looked as though that could have been the end of Davidson’s short-lived career in the red and black, but he is back after being drafted into the panel by Tally.
Davidson insists a return to the inter-county scene hadn’t been on his radar, especially considering surgery on an ankle injury restricted his appearances for Cumann Pheadair Naofa last season.
When the opportunity arose though, the Warrenpoint man jumped at the chance.
“I’d been contemplating going back to soccer, I’d been speaking to a couple of Irish League clubs and I wasn’t sure what to do, and then I got a phone call one night from Paddy,” said the 29-year-old.
“He asked me to come along and join up with the panel, try and get myself fit and give myself a chance of recovering and having an input. By the end of the phone call I had made my mind up that I wanted to go back.
“I hadn’t really considered it but I met Danny Hughes one day and he said that if I got the chance, definitely do go back in because he holds Paddy in very high regard.
“He said it would be a whole new ball game and I would really enjoy it, which I have. Paddy’s a people person, he wouldn’t pass you in the corridor without finding out how you are and how you’re coming along.
“That resonates well when you’re out injured because I’ve been at clubs in the past where, when you’re in the injury group, you’re sort of obsolete until you can come back and play.
“It’s probably the most professional environment I’ve been involved in, in either soccer or Gaelic.”
Davidson only returned to training last week following six months of rehab, and insists his sole focus is on getting himself fully fit to play any part this year.
Whether that comes during Down’s National League campaign – which begins against Laois tomorrow night – remains to be seen.
“My only goal is to get myself back, and it’ll take me six to eight weeks from right now.
“All I’ll be looking to do is just put myself in contention for game time. I’m not thinking there’s going to be a slot there for me, I’m just thinking in order for me to contribute I have to be fully fit and that’s what I’m going to try and do and see where that leaves me.
“The physios at Down are very good, Frank Quinn has been looking after me very well and he’s managed to get me back. The ankle’s nearly totally righted now, it’s just a case of getting the fitness levels up to scratch.”
And, despite turning out for Warrenpoint Town last year and contemplating an Irish League return before Tally’s call, Davidson says his soccer days are behind him for now.
“I prefer Gaelic - I think it’s a more exciting sport.
“I do enjoy soccer to a certain extent but it wouldn’t be a sport I follow. I find Gaelic far more exciting, there’s more happens within the matches and it’s a more enjoyable game to play.”
