Liam Dickinson
Encyclopedia
Liam Michael Dickinson is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Southend United
.
's Centre of Excellence where he was offered a contract, but he chose instead to sign for Bolton Wanderers
before joining Blackburn Rovers
where he was in their academy but at sixteen was released before signing a full time contract. He then spent some time out of the game, working full time as a graphic designer for a graphic design
company and playing sunday league football
before playing in the Manchester League
with Irlam FC
and then Swinton Town. When he was eighteen he started playing semi-professionally when he signed for North West Counties Football League
club Trafford
after a short trial in December 2003. He made 43 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals until a move to Woodley Sports
in 2004 where, despite injury problems, he scored nine goals in 38 appearances.
Dickinson later said of his early career, "Playing football on a Saturday was just an activity for me, a hobby, something you do for fun than an actual career prospect."
signed him for £
2,000 in December.
He made his debut on 2 January 2006 as a 71st minute substitute against Cheltenham Town
at Edgeley Park
scoring just five minutes later in a 2–2 draw. On 21 March 2006 he signed a contract extension with the club until July 2008.
His tally of seven goals in the 2005–06
season played a large part in the club's survival in League Two
. He also added seven more league goals for County in the 2006–07 season
. He did not score until Boxing Day in a 2–0 win over Notts County
, then adding six more before the end of the season.
During the 2007–08 season
he had his most prolific term as a Football League player hitting the net 21 times from 32 starts, winning Stockport's Player of the year award
in the process. He got the decisive goal in the League Two Semi-Final, Second Leg on 17 May 2008 against Wycombe Wanderers
at Edgeley Park and then scored Stockport's third goal in the League Two Play-Off Final against Rochdale
at Wembley Stadium
on 26 May as Stockport won 3–2 and were promoted to League One
to enhance his reputation on a national scale.
In June 2008, he was linked with a move to Championship
clubs Derby County
and Blackpool
On 11 June Stockport stated that they had received no offers for Dickinson and insisted he was not for sale despite reports Derby County had an offer rejected.
's ninth signing of the 2008–09 pre-season. In order for Dickinson to gain more experience, Jewell sent him on an initial one-month loan to League One
club Huddersfield Town
, on 19 August 2008. He made his debut in Town's 3–1 defeat by Milton Keynes Dons
on 23 August. His first goal for the Terriers came in their 2–1 defeat by Millwall
in which he fired in a powerful overhead kick to give the Terriers the lead on 30 August. On 13 September, he grabbed his first goal at the Galpharm Stadium
where he scored to give Town the lead against Tranmere Rovers
, but Town lost 2–1. Dickinson had his loan spell extended twice more before returning to Derby on 17 November 2008.
On 27 November 2008 Dickinson signed for Blackpool
on loan. Two days later he made a scoring debut for Blackpool, netting both of the Seasiders' goals in their 2–1 victory over Plymouth Argyle
at Home Park
. His first came just three minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute for fellow loanee Steve Kabba
. In his full home debut for Blackpool, on 6 December, Dickinson again scored twice in the second half as the Tangerines beat Charlton Athletic
2–0 at Bloomfield Road
. Blackpool manager Simon Grayson
said of Dickinson, "He has character and he's an honest lad. He's had a bit of a rollercoaster career but he might now have earned legend status here." Two days later Dickinson was named by the Football League
in the Championship "Team Of The Week". Interviewed by Sky Sports
on 12 December 2008, Dickinson said of his meteoric rise in football, "It's only three years ago, I was paying subs on a Sunday to play football and it's changed dramatically. To be at a massive club like Derby County and on loan to a big club like Blackpool, I have to pinch myself sometimes.".
When Paul Jewell resigned as Derby manager on 28 December, the first move by caretaker manager
Chris Hutchings
was to recall Dickinson from his loan spell at Blackpool.
, both of which were rejected, leaving Dickinson to criticise the club for placing an 'unrealistic' valuation on him.
side Brighton & Hove Albion
for £300,000, where he signed a three-year contract. After finding first-team opportunities difficult to come by, manager Gus Poyet allowed Dickinson to sign a loan deal with Championship
side Peterborough
until the end of the season.
side Peterborough United
on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season
. During his loan spell with the Posh, Dickinson scored 3 goals during 9 league appearances before returning to Brighton at the end of the season
.
side Barnsley
for an undisclosed fee, (thought to be in the region of £150,000) where he signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year. On January 6, 2011, Liam joined League One side Rochdale, on a loan deal, for the remainder of that season. After his loan spell, Dickinson was released from his contract at Barnsley.
on 5 July 2011, subject to the takeover of the club being completed. He was released from his contract on 13 July 2011, citing personal reasons. "Regrettably, we have agreed to a request from Liam to be released. We fully understand the reasons why," said acting chairman Peter Ridsdale
. "Liam has been a thorough professional in the short time he has been with us, and we hope that things will work out for him."
with the option of a further year. "Liam's a good size and he had a good goalscoring record in this division a few seasons ago with Stockport County," said manager Paul Sturrock
. "That got him a big move to Derby but since then he's been a bit nomadic but we feel he has the attributes to be a success here."
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
.
Early career
Dickinson began his career at BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
's Centre of Excellence where he was offered a contract, but he chose instead to sign for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
before joining Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
where he was in their academy but at sixteen was released before signing a full time contract. He then spent some time out of the game, working full time as a graphic designer for a graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
company and playing sunday league football
Sunday league football
Sunday league football is a term used in the United Kingdom to describe those association football leagues which play on Sunday, as opposed to the more usual Saturday. These leagues tend to be lower standard amateur competitions, whose players may have less ability, or less time to devote to...
before playing in the Manchester League
Manchester Football League
The Manchester Football League, currently known under terms of sponsorship as Bridgewater Office Supplies Football League, is a football league in England, covering a 20-mile radius from Manchester Town Hall. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. The 2010–11 champions...
with Irlam FC
Irlam F.C.
Irlam F.C. is an amateur football club situated in Irlam, Salford, England.The first team currently plays its football in the North West Counties League Division One.-History:...
and then Swinton Town. When he was eighteen he started playing semi-professionally when he signed for North West Counties Football League
North West Counties Football League
The North West Counties Football League is a football league in North west of England. As of 2011, the league covers Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Southern Cumbria, Northern Staffordshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire, and the far west of West Yorkshire. In the past, the...
club Trafford
Trafford F.C.
Trafford F.C. is an English football club based in Flixton, Greater Manchester. The club are currently members of Division One North of the Northern Premier League and play at Shawe View.-History:...
after a short trial in December 2003. He made 43 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals until a move to Woodley Sports
Woodley Sports F.C.
Woodley Sports F.C. is a football club based in Woodley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. They were established in 1970 as Woodley Athletic, and play at the Neil Rourke Memorial Stadium. In 1992, they became champions of the Manchester League Division One, and were promoted to the Manchester...
in 2004 where, despite injury problems, he scored nine goals in 38 appearances.
Dickinson later said of his early career, "Playing football on a Saturday was just an activity for me, a hobby, something you do for fun than an actual career prospect."
Stockport County
After impressing during a trial in November 2005, Stockport CountyStockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
signed him for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
2,000 in December.
He made his debut on 2 January 2006 as a 71st minute substitute against Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
at Edgeley Park
Edgeley Park
Edgeley Park is an association football and rugby union stadium in Stockport, England. The stadium was initially built for the rugby league club Stockport in 1901, but by 1902, the rugby club was defunct and in the same year, Stockport County Football Club, who were looking for a bigger ground,...
scoring just five minutes later in a 2–2 draw. On 21 March 2006 he signed a contract extension with the club until July 2008.
His tally of seven goals in the 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season played a large part in the club's survival in League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. He also added seven more league goals for County in the 2006–07 season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
. He did not score until Boxing Day in a 2–0 win over Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, then adding six more before the end of the season.
During the 2007–08 season
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
he had his most prolific term as a Football League player hitting the net 21 times from 32 starts, winning Stockport's Player of the year award
Player of the year award
Several sports leagues honour their best player with an award called Player of the Year. In the United States, this type of award is usually called a Most Valuable Player award...
in the process. He got the decisive goal in the League Two Semi-Final, Second Leg on 17 May 2008 against Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
at Edgeley Park and then scored Stockport's third goal in the League Two Play-Off Final against Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on 26 May as Stockport won 3–2 and were promoted to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
to enhance his reputation on a national scale.
In June 2008, he was linked with a move to Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
clubs Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
and Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
On 11 June Stockport stated that they had received no offers for Dickinson and insisted he was not for sale despite reports Derby County had an offer rejected.
Derby County
Dickinson signed for Derby County on 1 July 2008 for a fee of around £750,000, becoming Paul JewellPaul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
's ninth signing of the 2008–09 pre-season. In order for Dickinson to gain more experience, Jewell sent him on an initial one-month loan to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, on 19 August 2008. He made his debut in Town's 3–1 defeat by Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
on 23 August. His first goal for the Terriers came in their 2–1 defeat by Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in which he fired in a powerful overhead kick to give the Terriers the lead on 30 August. On 13 September, he grabbed his first goal at the Galpharm Stadium
Galpharm Stadium
The Galpharm Stadium, formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, is a multi-use sports in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Since 1994, it has been the home ground of Huddersfield Town and Super League side, Huddersfield Giants.-The Stadium:...
where he scored to give Town the lead against Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
, but Town lost 2–1. Dickinson had his loan spell extended twice more before returning to Derby on 17 November 2008.
On 27 November 2008 Dickinson signed for Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on loan. Two days later he made a scoring debut for Blackpool, netting both of the Seasiders
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
at Home Park
Home Park
Home Park is an all-seater football stadium in the Central Park area of Plymouth, England, and is the home of Football League Two club Plymouth Argyle. The ground, given the nickname the Theatre of Greens by the club's supporters, has been Argyle's permanent residence since 1901...
. His first came just three minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute for fellow loanee Steve Kabba
Steve Kabba
Sorfitu Tejan "Steve" Kabba is an English professional footballer. He is of Sierra Leonean origin. He plays as a striker for Football League Two side Barnet...
. In his full home debut for Blackpool, on 6 December, Dickinson again scored twice in the second half as the Tangerines beat Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
2–0 at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
. Blackpool manager Simon Grayson
Simon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
said of Dickinson, "He has character and he's an honest lad. He's had a bit of a rollercoaster career but he might now have earned legend status here." Two days later Dickinson was named by 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...
in the Championship "Team Of The Week". Interviewed by Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
on 12 December 2008, Dickinson said of his meteoric rise in football, "It's only three years ago, I was paying subs on a Sunday to play football and it's changed dramatically. To be at a massive club like Derby County and on loan to a big club like Blackpool, I have to pinch myself sometimes.".
When Paul Jewell resigned as Derby manager on 28 December, the first move by caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
Chris Hutchings
Chris Hutchings
Christopher "Chris" Hutchings is an English former footballer and former manager of Walsall. He played for a number of clubs including Chelsea and played more than 100 games for Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town...
was to recall Dickinson from his loan spell at Blackpool.
Loan move to Leeds United
On the last day of the January 2009 transfer window Dickinson agreed to a loan move to Leeds United, but the papers arrived at the Football League 14 minutes after the deadline. The transfer was thus void despite appeals to the Football League from Leeds. Negotiations between Leeds United and Derby County for Dickinson to sign on an emergency loan for 93 days continued and he was expected to move at the end of February, however the move was put on hold because he suffered an injury. He joined Leeds on loan for the rest of the season on 13 March 2009. However, he failed to score a goal whilst at Leeds as they failed to earn promotion. The loan move was regarded as a total disaster by fans, and Dickinson received some abuse during the games from Leeds fans because of his poor performances. On his return to Derby, Dickinson was told he was not part of the plans at Derby and that it was likely he would be allowed to move on a season-long loan. On 3 July it was revealed that Dickinson was the subject of two 'small' bids from Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, both of which were rejected, leaving Dickinson to criticise the club for placing an 'unrealistic' valuation on him.
Brighton & Hove Albion
On 14 July 2009, Dickinson transferred to League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
for £300,000, where he signed a three-year contract. After finding first-team opportunities difficult to come by, manager Gus Poyet allowed Dickinson to sign a loan deal with Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Peterborough
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
until the end of the season.
Loan move to Peterborough United
After struggling to settle at Brighton, manager Gus Poyet allowed Dickinson to move to Football League ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Football League Championship
The Football League Championship season 2009–10 is the sixth season of the league under its current title and eighteenth season under its current league division format...
. During his loan spell with the Posh, Dickinson scored 3 goals during 9 league appearances before returning to Brighton at the end of the season
2009–10 Football League Championship
The Football League Championship season 2009–10 is the sixth season of the league under its current title and eighteenth season under its current league division format...
.
Barnsley
On 30 June 2010, Dickinson transferred to ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
for an undisclosed fee, (thought to be in the region of £150,000) where he signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year. On January 6, 2011, Liam joined League One side Rochdale, on a loan deal, for the remainder of that season. After his loan spell, Dickinson was released from his contract at Barnsley.
Plymouth Argyle
Dickinson agreed a contract with Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on 5 July 2011, subject to the takeover of the club being completed. He was released from his contract on 13 July 2011, citing personal reasons. "Regrettably, we have agreed to a request from Liam to be released. We fully understand the reasons why," said acting chairman Peter Ridsdale
Peter Ridsdale
Peter Ridsdale is an English businessman who is currently the Chairman of Football Operations at League Two club Plymouth Argyle. Ridsdale was previously the chairman of Leeds United, Barnsley and Cardiff City.-History:...
. "Liam has been a thorough professional in the short time he has been with us, and we hope that things will work out for him."
Southend United
On 27 July 2011, Dickinson signed a 12-month contract with Southend UnitedSouthend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
with the option of a further year. "Liam's a good size and he had a good goalscoring record in this division a few seasons ago with Stockport County," said manager Paul Sturrock
Paul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
. "That got him a big move to Derby but since then he's been a bit nomadic but we feel he has the attributes to be a success here."
Honours
Stockport County- League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Play-Off winner: 2007–082007-08 in English footballThe 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...