Daws attended Gleadless Junior and Ashleigh Comprehensive School in Sheffield. He represented his country at U15 and U18 level at football. His first appearance at Wembley was on 5 June 1982 in the Dentyne Trophy, which was contested against Scotland's U15s. Alongside him in that England U15 squad was his fellow Ashleigh school pupil John Beresford. A third pupil from Sheffield was also in that England squad: Fraser Digby of Jordanthorpe School. The trio were key members of the Sheffield Boys U15s team along with Scott Sellers of Hinde House School and Steven Harris of Abbeydale Grange School that won the ESFA Inter Association Trophy in that year, the boys also played for the Sheffield Sunday League team Throstles. The England starting line up that day was: 1. Darren Heyes; 2. Alan Spiers; 3. Michael Thomas; 4. Mark Seagraves; 5. Simon Ratcliffe ; 6. Ian Sankey; 7. Dale Gordon; 8. Ian Fairbrother; 9. Darren Beckford; 10. Kevin Keen; 11. Tony Daws. Daws also represented Yorkshire Boys in cricket, rugby and athletics and if he had not made it as a professional footballer he was tipped to have a promising future in athletics. In those days, a boy could not sign a contract with a club until his 14th birthday, and the big clubs would "court" the best boys in the country in the years leading up to this landmark age. Daws' pace, strength and predatory scoring had alerted the big clubs and there were a number eager to sign him.
Schoolboy contracts
Daws was spotted by a Manchester United scout and subsequently signed for the club, with his registration filed on his 14th birthday. One year later it occurred to him and his father, James, that he would have to be a truly exceptional player to make the Manchester United first team. In front of him in the pecking order were established first-team players Joe Jordan, Steve Coppell, Andy Ritchie, Mickey Thomas and Gary Birtles. Then there were the Youth Team players Norman Whiteside and Mark Hughes and the "unknowns" in the U16 and U15 age groups. Daws and his father decided to ask for his release from the club. In 1981 following persuasion from Jimmy Sirrel and Howard Wilkinson of Notts County, Daws signed schoolboy forms for the Nottingham club. Sirrell had known of Daws from when he was the manager of Sheffield United in 1977, having watched him play for the Sheffield Boys team at United's training ground. Daws went on to play for Notts County's Youth team as a 15- and 16-year-old.
Professional playing career
Apprenticeship and Notts County
Daws signed a two-year apprenticeship with Notts County upon leaving school in 1983. He made his reserve-team debut for County whilst still at school and went on to make his first-team debut whilst still an apprentice, aged 18. That first League appearance was on 9 March 1985 in a 1–2 loss at Birmingham City in the old Second Division. The following week Daws opened his goalscoring account in the second minute of a 4–1 away success against Cardiff City. He made seven appearances that season, scoring one goal. The following season Daws made just the one substitute appearance. He was released at the end of the 1985–86 season following Notts County's relegation to the old Third Division.
Sheffield United
Daws moved to Second Division club Sheffield United on a free transfer for the 1986–87 season. He made his debut for his hometown club on 8 November 1986, scoring both goals in a 2–0 win at Blackburn Rovers for Billy McEwan's Blades team. Daws made eleven appearances for the club that season, scoring three goals. His contract was for only one year, and it was not renewed at the end of the season. Once again Daws was on the free-transfer list.
Scunthorpe United
The 1987–88 season saw Daws playing for Scunthorpe United in the Fourth Division. Daws made the short journey to North Lincolnshire to sign for new manager Mick Buxtonin the summer of 1987. He made his debut for The Iron in the opening game of the season, a 3–0 home league win over Tranmere Rovers on 15 August 1987. It was during his time at Scunthorpe that he incurred the back injury that was to bring his playing career to a relatively early end.
After Scunthorpe
On leaving Scunthorpe Daws moved to Grimsby Town, then Lincoln City, Halifax Town, Scarborough and Altrincham before his back problems forced him to retire from playing at a relatively early age.
Coaching career
After retiring he took up coaching positions at Sheffield United as part-time Youth Development Officer, then Assistant Academy and U19 Coach before becoming under-nine to under-18 Youth Development Officer at Sheffield Wednesday. He has been the academy manager at Scunthorpe United since 2005, and was appointed Caretaker Manager on 16 March 2011, following the sacking of manager Ian Baraclough, until the appointment of Alan Knill on 31 March 2011.
