Great article HH and one I was looking to do myself but you have summed up exactly what I was going to say anyway.

The term "Legend" is hard to qualify as everyone has their own interpretation. Like you say you can qualify it through a number of criteria, appearances and longevity seem to be the most common that are thrown out. Then you look at what they helped the club achieve, ie cup wins, Europe qualification etc. Personal honours whilst at the club can also be looked at like International caps, top scorers, player of the year.

All these are decent ways of judging it, but for me it is much more simple than that. Look at the word legend and what it means. Legends are stories that are passed down through the ages, even if you didnt experience them yourself, you still know the stories.

For me you only know whether a player has become a legend if they are still talked about in years to come. So yes in terms of the stats there can be cases for a few players and there are only two who fit both criteria of stats and stories, the two mentioned, but who do we romanticise about, who do we 'wish we had now'? That for me is how a legend is truly defined.

No one thing can define a club legend, sure if a player plays for a club for a long time then they have more of a chance to become a club legend since they have more time to do “legendary things.”

I like the way GoldenGambler has summed it up and is defiantly an important aspect in determining a legend. . Kevin Davies will be talked about for many years to come (obviously talked about in a positive way) therefore by that criterion he is a legend. He will always be remembered very fondly and cheered whenever he is at the Bok.

However, at the same time using that system most of “THAT” Big Sam squad and “THAT” Bruce Rioch squad would qualify, since we will always remember the players that helped us achieve great things. People still talk about Fabian De Freitas’ goals against Reading in the play-off final but should he be considered a legend for it? While in my opinion a few of those individual players should be considered legends, not every of them should.

It’s a touchy subject and different people have different ideas what the term Legend entails. I don’t think it’s an appearances thing or being part of a great memorable squad. I think it comes down to consistent high performances, having a general affinity to the club and just generally providing very fond memories that will never be forgotten along with countless other things. I think going by this logic Kevin Davies very much is a legend, and will always be remembered as one. The term legend get batted about all too often these days but in this case he is one of those few players that come along from time to time and generally deserve that title. He will always be respected and loved by the Wanderers faithful and is indeed a Legend.

No football player really meets the literal definition of legend. Particularly not one from the present day.

I'm going to simplify the question and it's not the definition that everyone will agree with but that's OK.

A footballer legend to any individual is whoever you have an affinity to. Personally I think John Byrom and John McGinley are legends as well as the fore mention two undoubted Bolton legends.

Byrom, because in addition to being a great goalscorer for us, I was privileged enough to know him and he used to supply me with two season tickets each season until he left for his return trip to Blackburn. He also told me that he scored with all parts of his body. Make of that what you will. He was a lazy type of player but you could rely on him to put the ball in the back of the net.

McGinley, well he just typified the spirit of the best of strikers, frightened of nothing or no one, a self belief that seemed to me to be unshakable. He was the opposite of the other John, he would run himself into the ground for the cause.

Very different players but they both had that certain something that fop me will never be forgotten.

Perhaps other posters will post there so called legends, obviously we probably won't agree with each other but it might be interesting reading.

SKD may not deserve the title legend that's down to opinion. What he does deserve is the admiration for nearly 10 years of giving his all for Bolton Wanderers football club and some great memories.

Kevin was the figurehead and the main driving force behind the Allardyce ' Revolution '. He epitomised everything that BSA's Bolton stood for, and helped put the club on top of the footballing map for the first time in about 50 years. Those four ' top 8 ' seasons are, in themselves, Legendary - a feat that no Bolton side had ever achieved in the Modern Era .. and one that will not be matched in the next 50 years, barring a miracle ....

So ...be thankful that you were around to see very best of Bolton Wanderers in the Premiership ...most certainly it was a ' one off ' ..... which is exactly what Kevin Davies is ... a ' one off ' Bolton Wanderers Legend.

I truly hope he finds what he's lookin' for ...and I relish the thought that one day, ' He'll Be Back ' in much the same way Big Sam returned! That definitely will be the day when other Premiership Manager's hearts will sink, when they realise they'll have to face a ' proper ' Bolton side ..... twice a season!!

For me, SKD is one of two legends (the other being Jussi) and one of many heroes we've had in the 21st century so far.

I've written a blog post about Davies which sums up what I would write here. If anyone would like a read it is at http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/2013/03/27/kevin-davies-measuring-our-loss.html

Great article LH

Good Article posing an interesting question.

i think its very subjective but i think the most important attribute is charisma.

davo, statistically hasnt been a world beater but he was the centre piece in our clubs most succesful period, i think people relate to his values aswell, Bolton being a perceived northern working mans town. Davies falls into this category. Northern bloke who wears his heart on his sleeve.

I think another major factor to be perceived as a legend is ability - i dont know the exact stats, but im sure cantona only played for united for a shortwhile, 5years i think, and he is perceived as a legend at Manu.

i would also argue a lot of people hold Djorkaeff or hierro as legends, and okocha. These are the people who lit up the Reebok and made supporting the club an absolute joy - Some, and i mean some would say Pedersens a legend, just the way someone is and there characteristics can endear you to fans

Great article LH.

What makes a legend?

I think its a number of factors.

Memorability, time at club, contribution during that time, relationship with the fans.

Super Kev will remembered for a long time to come for his length of service, consistently high level of dedication to the cause and for the good relationship he had with the fans.

Years from now we will all be telling our kids/grandkids about Super Kevin Davies and the Allardyce years.

Thats the mark of a legend, a figure so interwoven with a period of history that he actions take on a mythic status in the recounting of that time.

"Super" John McGinley has that status within the White Hot Years. Davies has it during the Allardyce years and beyond.

Alongside Nat Lofthouse, both are club legends in my eyes.

Clegg. Are you saying there are some fans who don't think Henrik 'Goal Machine' Pedersen is a Bolton legend!?

I loved him. There's something endearing about a player who has limitations but is willing to play in any position asked of him and work his heart out every second he's on the pitch.

I don't see Davies as a club legend at all. I agree with the OP to be honest and if I was picking players from the BSA era I could name quite a few more deserving of the honour. I find it strange that people would call Davies a legend, say the club need to turn him into a coach and so on. Why was nobody saying this about Jussi? The guy was more important to the team, a better player and a longer servant of the club. I think it is telling of his value to the team that BSA spent so much of his reign searching for a real striker, which he eventually found in Anelka.
From the last ten years there will be a few players who were brilliant on the pitch. Jussi, Laville, Cahill, Hierro, Campo, Okocha, Djorkaeff and Anelka. I am glad to have seen them play but even those guys are not club legends.

Excellent Blog Post Largehat

Thanks as ever for the kind comments about my blog guys

I don't like 'legend' debates, they're so subjective. There's no accepted definition to measure a player against.

If you look in a dictionary, a 'legend' is defined as a historical story which may be accepted as true but which lacks authentication.

Somehow this word has crept into sporting vernacular to describe an outstanding or long serving sportsman.

Without the basic foundation stone of an accepted definition of the word, how can we satisfactorily apply it to individuals? It's a futile task. So we're left with everyone's personal and passionately held views.

You might be right about the ' Legend ' tag .... but clubs the size of Bolton rarely recruit and retain a player who's outstanding contribution - over a sustained period - gives a very large concenus of fans the chance to rate them as a club ' All-Time Great '.

IHMO, Kevin Davies has earned the right to be admitted to such an honourable collective of ' Elite' Wanderers playing staff. Yes, we'll all have our own personal ' Top 10 ' over the years no doubt, and some will consider 10 to be too limiting a number. It's also likely to be coloured by your own personal memories of course (who YOU have seen play over the years).

Well ...... I've watched Bolton on n' off since 1969, and for me, SKD easily makes my ' Top 10 ' for sure ...... in fact, Top 3 might be a more accurate assessment!

Great article LH.
Shame to see SKD leave but all cycles come to an end in the same way SJM,Gudni,Jussi etc all left.
In my eyes and many others Kev will leave great memories especially the period with Big Sams exciting and streetwise Bolton side.

Clegg. Are you saying there are some fans who don't think Henrik 'Goal Machine' Pedersen is a Bolton legend!?

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i think i was saying that, and sincerely apologise! i was actually wondering why there was a campaign for a lofthouse statue when Henrik Pedersen had graced the reebok turf!! Some people eh!

I think it is telling of his value to the team that BSA spent so much of his reign searching for a real striker, which he eventually found in Anelka.

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I think it is more telling of his value to the team that once Allardyce found an out-and-out striker in Anelka he continued to play Davies as part of a front 3 alongside Nico and Diouf in a very fluid front 3 formation that the likes of United and Chelsea have since adopted at various times.

SKD was not a legend for me. He was very effective and part of a great formula set up by BSA..

He was a striker, not a great goal scorer, and not a scorer of great goals... Therefore he doesn't fit in my eyes.. But as LH said, it's subjective..

I think it is telling of his value to the team that BSA spent so much of his reign searching for a real striker, which he eventually found in Anelka.

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I think it is more telling of his value to the team that once Allardyce found an out-and-out striker in Anelka he continued to play Davies as part of a front 3 alongside Nico and Diouf in a very fluid front 3 formation that the likes of United and Chelsea have since adopted at various times.
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Cracking response!!!!!!

BSA built the greatest ever post war Bolton team entirely around SKD .. there can be no higher compliment to Kevin than that