Focus On….Richard Dixey

Series continues on players who have spent some of their careers as a player or manager in the Southern League.

There is a particularly good argument for Richard Dixey to be classed as one of, if not the best centre-back outside the Football League during the late 1970s and early 80s.

After what looked like being a promising full-time career with Burnley came to a premature end, Richard returned home to Leicestershire and was signed by the mercurial Derek Dougan for then-Southern League Premier Division side Kettering Town.

I was fortunate enough to have seen many of Richard`s games for the Poppies, especially midweek matches as I was still playing myself on Saturdays then, and his partnership with skipper Sean Suddards was the perfect combination.

Suddards, despite being small for a centre-back, was terrific in the air as well and the pair helped push the Poppies close to the championship in every season the pair were together.

Richard`s career with Kettering was topped off by reaching the 1979 FA Trophy Final at Wembley, which he mentions below, but, surprisingly for most supporters, the new manager Colin Clarke – a centre-back himself – sold Richard to Scarborough ahead of the new Alliance Premier League kicking off.

He spent a couple of years on the North Yorkshire coast before returning nearer home by joining Nuneaton Borough in March 1981.

He cost Nuneaton a £9,500 fee and became Boro’s record signing, beating the previous figure paid for striker Trevor Morley by almost £2,000 and it was a record for a defender between two Alliance Premier League clubs.

To get the deal done, Nuneaton had to hold an emergency financial meeting before they agreed to support manager Graham Carr in his bid to sign the then-24-year-old defender.

In January 1988, Richard ended his lengthy spell with Nuneaton, where the skipper acted as caretaker manager three times, albeit the third occasion was a very brief one after Jimmy Holmes had a change of mind and returned to the helm, and he finished his playing days with nearby Atherstone United.

He went on to assist his former Kettering team-mate John Flannigan as assistant manager at Southern League Midland Division side Leicester United before ending his personal association with the game.

Clubs Played For:

Enderby Town, Burnley, Stockport County (loan), Kettering Town, Scarborough, Nuneaton Borough, Atherstone United

Best Game Played In?

Have so many. FA Trophy Final in 1979 for Kettering against Stafford Rangers in front of 32,000 at Wembley. Playing for Burnley (one of three first team games) against Everton on the Friday night before the Grand National in front of a full house of 50,000 – I marked England centre forward Bob Latchford. Great Burnley side at the time. Jimmy Anderson was manager - a really nice guy.

The FA Trophy Semi-Final first Leg at Dagenham in 1979 for Kettering. Full house and my type of game - backs against the wall. A goalless draw setting us up for the second leg 1-0 win at Kettering with a full house and fantastic spectacular bicycle kick goal by Billy Kellock.

I have got to mention a game at Nuneaton Borough when George Best guested for us against Coventry City (Coventry were in the First Division at the time) What a player! He ran rings round the Coventry players. He had brought Miss Sweden to the game which was a nice surprise for us all! Country had the likes of Mark Hateley playing.

Best 11 Played With:

Gordon Livsey (Scarborough and my travelling partner)

Sean Suddards (Kettering)

John Glover (Nuneaton)

Roger Ashby (Kettering)

John Flannigan (Kettering/Nuneaton and my travelling partner)

Paul Culpin (Nuneaton) (Goal machine!)

Billy Kellock (Kettering) (What a character!) pictured

Willie Gibson (Nuneaton)

Gary Bradder (Atherstone)

Peter Phipps (Kettering)

Roy Clayton (Kettering)

Subs (Not a bad subs list!)

Trevor Morley (Nuneaton)

Richard Hill (Nuneaton Boro

Eddie McGoldrick (Nuneaton)

Terry Satchwell (Enderby)

Neil Mather (Enderby)

Best Captain (s)?

Colin Waldron was a great role model at Burnley for me. Sean Suddards was a great mentor at Kettering, and I was disappointed when I left for Scarborough. John Glover (RIP) at Nuneaton was like a greyhound and complimented me.

Funniest Team-Mate?

John Flannigan closely followed by Billy Kellock. We had some funny times. John was a role model for me but in a different way. I was a young lad easily lead astray!

Best Manager?

Graham Carr Nuneaton and a very funny bloke. Mick Jones (pictured) was a good manager at Kettering. When Mick took over at Kettering from Derek Dougan (what a character) his first job was to take me down to the then-FA headquarters at Lancaster Gate for a disciplinary hearing. He was a bit shocked when a member of the disciplinary panel asked me if I had thought of taking up golf, suggesting that If I didn't change my ways, I wouldn't be playing football! Mick sorted me out and pointed me in the right direction.

Best Mate in Football?

John Flannigan

Are You Still Involved in Football?

I have a season ticket at Leicester City. Not involved in running a team now. When I finished playing, I was assistant to John Flannigan at Leicester United.

I was caretaker manager three times at Nuneaton, after Graham Carr left for Northampton, then after Peter Morris was sacked and then, in November 1986, briefly after the departure of Jimmy Holmes.

Words of Advice?

When you cross that white line be honest and give it your all. Make the most of your opportunities they may not come around again. I have no regrets - I have been lucky.