Affectionately known as 'The Skip' around Turf Moor, Steve Davis is a player that was synonymous with the Club's great revival throughout the 1990's and also the establishment in the First Division from 2000 onwards.

A commanding central defender who was both strong in the tackle and powerful in the air. Not only was he a top defender, but he was also a majestic player on the ball with the ability to bring the ball out of defence and spray passes of all variety around the park, whether hitting it 50 yards to the wing or sliding a through ball for the attackers.

He really was a great player to watch and many Clarets fans name him in their all-time Burnley XI because of his exemplary service and commitment to the cause.

Hailing from the north-east, Steve was a keen Sunderland supporter as a youngster and also played cricket for his county, but it was football he chose and legendary north-east scout Jack Hixon spied him playing junior football.

At the time, Hixon was working for Southampton and the man who also discovered Alan Shearer for the Saints, sent Davis to the south coast to begin his football career.

After progressing through the youth and reserve teams at The Dell, Davis began to knock on the first team door at Southampton, but it was in 1989 that Davis and Burnley first crossed paths when he signed on loan at Turf Moor and made nine appearances for the Clarets, impressing everyone at Turf Moor during the spell. When that loan came to an end, he returned to Southampton, where he only managed to make five starts in the first team.

After a short loan spell with Notts County in 1991, Burnley still hadn't forgotten his earlier spell at Turf Moor and in the close season of 1991, an offer of £60,000 was accepted and Davis became a permanent member of the Clarets squad.

His impact was immediate and in Steve's first season with the club, Burnley won the Fourth Division Championship, with Davis and John Pender the defensive pairing on which the solid foundation was based.

The Clarets consolidated in the new Second Division in the following season, with Davis again impressive throughout.

Another promotion was achieved in the 1993/94, this time at Wembley, through the play-offs against Stockport County, when Davis and Pender were again the rocks on which success was based.

Davis' reputation was growing by the month and in the First Division campaign of 1994/95 the team struggled from start to finish, but Davis remained typically consistent and following the relegation back to the Second Division, the sale of Davis was imminent.

Many clubs were linked with him and it was something of a surprise when Luton Town won the race to sign him, paying £750,000 for his services.

In his first season at Kenilworth Road, the Hatters followed Burnley into the Second Division, but Davis continued to receive rave reviews for his displays as captain of Luton and speculation linked him with the likes of Birmingham City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

However, Davis still had Burnley in his heart and midway through Stan Ternent's first season in charge at Turf Moor, he returned to Lancashire, with the club paying a then record transfer fee of £750,000 to bring him back.

He slotted straight back into the team and was a crucial part of the team as Burnley averted relegation to the Third Division.

His first full season back at the Club ended in promotion to the First Division via a second placed finish and Davis was one of the main men behind that success.

His experience was instrumental in Burnley's consolidation in the First Division during the 2000/01 and he started the 2001/02 season in fine form.

However, for the first time in his career, the reliable skipper picked up a bad knee injury just before Christmas and was missing for a large chunk of the season. He did return for the end of the season, as Burnley agonizingly missed out on a place in the play-offs by virtue of one goal.

In Davis' final season at the Club, 2002/03, Ternent utilised Davis in a holding midfield role, in which he played well before suffering another bad injury ahead of the festive period.

He made a return before the end of the season and played in the final few matches, but with his contract about to expire at the end of the campaign, the club released him along with 12 other first team professionals.

His final match for the Club took place at Selhurst Park against Wimbledon when Davis was withdrawn in the second half with a slight groin strain, to be given a rapturous reception by the fans, who broke into an impromptu chant of 'you'll always be a Claret'.

Having played for the club for nearly 10 years over his two spells, Davis will always be remembered as a 'Vintage Claret' by the Club's supporters.