Neville Southall credits fellow Welshman and one of his predecessors in Everton’s goal, Dai Davies, with providing two of the most valuable “football lessons” he received at the outset of a glittering career.

Davies, who had nearly seven years with Everton after joining in December 1970, is receiving care at Wrexham’s Nightingale House Hospice after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

He was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and treated at Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Davies won 52 caps for his country before giving way to Southall as Wales number one and played for Everton 94 times.

Another former Everton teammate, Ronny Goodlass, was quick to send his best wishes to a “lovely, lovely man”.

Southall represented his country on 92 occasions following a debut in 1982 – six days before Davies played his final Wales game.

“Dai Davies taught me the two most important football lessons,” Southall told evertonfc.com.

“He taught me how to look after somebody who was in the squad for the first time.

“We roomed together and he looked after me fantastically well.

“He could have been awkward because obviously we were after the same shirt, but he wasn’t.

“He was really good to me and just said, ‘If you take my place, then you’re better than me’, and he helped me so much.

“He also taught me how to react to making mistakes.

“Everybody makes them but watching how strong he was mentally, was a real learning curve.

“Dai had incredible mental strength and never let the odd mistake affect him. He just kept going.

“He won more than 50 caps and played loads of games at the top level and should be recognised as a top goalkeeper.

“His attitude was always spot on and he’s a great guy as well, a really funny person.”

Davies in action for Wales against Scotland in 1977. He made 52 appearances for his country.

Ex-winger Goodlass, who spent two years in the Everton First Team after graduating from the youth ranks in 1975 and later reunited with Davies at Tranmere Rovers, is planning to contact his good friend and former teammate.

Davies joined Everton from boyhood team Swansea City in December 1970.

He earned 16 of his 52 Welsh caps during his spell at the Club before leaving for Wrexham in 1977.

The keeper linked up again with Goodlass at Tranmere in 1983, via two years back with Swansea, and despite retiring following one season at Prenton Park had subsequent short spells with Bangor City and Wrexham.

And Goodlass echoed Southall's views on Davies's humour and professionalism when explaining why the 72-year-old remains a deeply popular figure.

“It’s awful news and my thoughts are with Dai and his family,” Goodlass told evertonfc.com.

“I have always got on great with Dai and he was not just a terrific professional, he is also a terrific person. He was always first in, last out at Bellefield and never left anything on the pitch.

Neville Southall took over the Wales number one jersey from Davies in 1982 and says his predecessor was a huge help to him in his early career.

"He gave his all in every training session and every game.

“Dai has a great sense of humour.

“I remember being away with Tranmere Rovers and we met a group of Evertonians in a hotel.

"One of them bought Dai a pint and when he handed it to him, Dai said ‘I bet you thought I’d drop this!’

“And that’s what he’s like. He loves a laugh and a joke and can laugh at himself as well.

"He’s an intelligent man, too. He had a natural healing place in North Wales and when I did my knee in playing squash, Dai sorted it for me.

“I’ve no idea how because the treatment involved washing crystals but he was brilliant and it worked.

“Cancer is such a cruel disease and I am so distressed about the news.

"Dai is a lovely, lovely man and I’ll be contacting him soon.”

Ronny Goodlass (middle row, second from left) and Dai Davies (middle row, fifth from left) were teammates at Everton and Tranmere Rovers.