The start of the 2003-04 English Premiership football (soccer) season on Saturday has been overshadowed by the tragic death of 21-year-old forward Jimmy Davis. He was on his way to play his first match for Watford. Davis, a Manchester United striker, had been due to begin a one-year loan in the first division match against Coventry City.
The match was postponed less than two hours before kickoff after Davis was killed in a car accident. The young striker was a former England youth international who had been sent to Watford to gain first team experience. Davis was a regular for the United reserve team having risen through the Under-19 team at Old Trafford.
Earlier Saturday it was announced that former Blackburn manager Ray Harford had died at the age of 58 after losing his battle against cancer.