Derek Dawkins
Encyclopedia
Derek Anthony Dawkins is an English former professional footballer, born in Edmonton, London
, who played as a midfielder
in the Football League
for Leicester City
, Mansfield Town
, Bournemouth
and Torquay United
.
Derek 'The Dude' Dawkins began his career as an apprentice with Leicester City
, turning professional in November 1977 and making his league debut the same season. He played only 3 league games for the Foxes before moving to Mansfield Town
in December 1978. He was released by the Field Mill side after 73 games, joining Bournemouth
in August 1981. He played only 8 times for the Cherries before dropping into non-league football.
In February 1984 he joined Torquay United
from Weymouth
and began the most successful spell of his career, becoming a great favourite of the Plainmoor crowd. His versatility was put to the test in May 1987, with Torquay at home to Crewe and in danger of losing league status, he played out of position in the centre of the Torquay defence, playing his part in the Gulls survival. His other great moment at Plainmoor
was scoring the winner against a Tottenham Hotspur side containing the likes of Ray Clemence
, Clive Allen
, Gary Mabbutt
and future Torquay player Chris Waddle
, in a League Cup 2nd Round 1st Leg tie in 1987. He left Torquay after 175 games in which he scored 7 times, joining Newport County
.
In the summer of 1990 he joined Gloucester City
from Yeovil Town
, where he appeared in the final match at their famous Huish ground and the first match at their new Huish Park stadium.
Whilst at Torquay he was in charge of the youth team at Torquay United, bringing through the likes of Lee Sharpe. In May 2001 the Torquay Herald Express reported that Dawkins was living in Torquay and running a mobile-phone cases business.
His son Luke was an apprentice with Torquay United, but was released at the end of his apprenticeship in March 2001, joining Taunton Town
.
Derek is now involved with the Sheffield United Academy in Torrevieja, Spain.
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
, who played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
and Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
.
Derek 'The Dude' Dawkins began his career as an apprentice with Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, turning professional in November 1977 and making his league debut the same season. He played only 3 league games for the Foxes before moving to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in December 1978. He was released by the Field Mill side after 73 games, joining Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
in August 1981. He played only 8 times for the Cherries before dropping into non-league football.
In February 1984 he joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
from Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
and began the most successful spell of his career, becoming a great favourite of the Plainmoor crowd. His versatility was put to the test in May 1987, with Torquay at home to Crewe and in danger of losing league status, he played out of position in the centre of the Torquay defence, playing his part in the Gulls survival. His other great moment at Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
was scoring the winner against a Tottenham Hotspur side containing the likes of Ray Clemence
Ray Clemence
Raymond Neal "Ray" Clemence, MBE is one of English and European football's most decorated goalkeepers ever and was part of the Liverpool team of the 1970s.-Scunthorpe United:...
, Clive Allen
Clive Allen
Clive Darren Allen is a retired English footballer, a prolific scorer for a number of clubs.Allen is the son of ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward Les Allen, who was a member of the legendary team which won the First Division title and FA Cup "double" in 1961...
, Gary Mabbutt
Gary Mabbutt
Gary Mabbutt MBE is an English former professional footballer who made more than 600 appearances in the Football League and Premier League playing for Bristol Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur, and won 16 caps for the England national team. He was most regularly seen in central defence but was a...
and future Torquay player Chris Waddle
Chris Waddle
Christopher Roland "Chris" Waddle is a former footballer from England. He played for a number of clubs in the 1980s and 90s, including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday in England, and Olympique de Marseille in France...
, in a League Cup 2nd Round 1st Leg tie in 1987. He left Torquay after 175 games in which he scored 7 times, joining Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
.
In the summer of 1990 he joined Gloucester City
Gloucester City A.F.C.
Gloucester City Association Football Club is an English semi-professional association football club currently based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in South West England, via groundshare agreement....
from Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
, where he appeared in the final match at their famous Huish ground and the first match at their new Huish Park stadium.
Whilst at Torquay he was in charge of the youth team at Torquay United, bringing through the likes of Lee Sharpe. In May 2001 the Torquay Herald Express reported that Dawkins was living in Torquay and running a mobile-phone cases business.
His son Luke was an apprentice with Torquay United, but was released at the end of his apprenticeship in March 2001, joining Taunton Town
Taunton Town F.C.
Taunton Town Football Club are an English football club based in Taunton, Somerset, England. They compete in the Southern Football League Division One South & West, and play their home matches at their Wordsworth Drive ground which they moved into during the 1953 season...
.
Derek is now involved with the Sheffield United Academy in Torrevieja, Spain.