Sir.-I read with interest in Ernie Howe's column, in last Friday's Gazette, his memoir of the late Taffy Davies, the former Basingstoke Town FC manager, whom he described as one of Basingstoke Town's longest-serving managers.

I would like to add that, if you measure by trophies, he was also arguably the most successful manager Basingstoke Town have ever had.

From 1965 through to 1971, he won the Hampshire League Division One three times, came second three times, was runner-up in the Hampshire Senior Cup in 1965 and completed the league and cup double in the season 1970-71.

The following season he was still at the helm when the club stepped up a level and joined the Southern League.

Latterly he moved on to Andover Town as manager, where Nigel Spackman (Bournemouth, Chelsea, Liverpool, Glasgow Rangers and England) passed through his hands.

After retiring from football management, Taffy scouted for Reading and Oxford United, where his opinion was sought in the signing of Ray Houghton and Dean Saunders, who both went on to play for Liverpool and their respective countries.

Taffy was a genial and gregarious man who enjoyed the company of football people, particularly the bi-annual reunions of Basingstoke Town and Thornycroft Athletic players (from the '50s, '60s and '70s), organised by Doug Gittens at the Basingstoke Conservative Club.

-Steve Partridge, Linden Avenue, Old Basing.