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My Club: Alan Dicks.

Discussion in 'Bristol City' started by wizered, Mar 18, 2020.

  1. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    My Club: Alan Dicks
    Monday, March 16th 2020

    City’s second-longest serving manager, Alan Dicks, was in charge for 13 years at Ashton Gate (October 1967 - September 1980), during which time he famously led the Robins back into the top flight. Here he recalls those glory years...

    "I was working with Jimmy Hill at Coventry City but when he was leaving in 1967, the club decided they didn’t want to promote me to manager, so I made a few calls and the chance to join City came about.

    "I definitely didn’t see myself being here for so long, you just want to get through each season. Fortunately, the club was backed by local businessmen and like-minded people.

    "Then we had Paul Cheesley and Tom Ritchie. We used to train on the Friday and do sprints and Cheesley would sprint against everyone. He would eventually get a cigarette out as he looked back on everyone behind him!

    "He was the quickest, had a lot of power and energy and had it all. But just days into our first season up in the First Division he got injured, which was so sad.

    "I was lucky that I was able to work with good players – the likes of John Galley, Ken Wimshurst and Bobby Kellard. Galley’s goal record kept us up and we were always able to get players who could enhance the group."

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    "When it came to the 1976 promotion side, it really picked itself, we were winning games and it made it easy. We had Ray Cashley who was a full-back when he first started.

    "He was away with the reserves when the goalkeeper got sick and Ray said: ‘I’ll go in goal’. The message I got back was: ‘We’ve got your next goalkeeper. He’s got hands like glue’.

    "So gradually he came through the reserves into the first team and played with the likes of Gerry Sweeney, Gary Collier, Geoff Merrick, Gerry Gow and Brian Drysdale. They were outstanding.

    "We have gone close to promotion to the top flight on a couple of times since then, but sadly it hasn’t happened. I have been to Wembley and seen City unlucky, but getting promoted isn’t easy. When you look at the teams pushing hard this season, for example – the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Leeds and Fulham – there are so many good teams competing for a place.

    "The club really has come along thanks to Steve Lansdown’s involvement. I’m a City supporter and I’m here at every home game unless I’m in America where I spent 10 years living and coaching – that was very much a learning experience, but I enjoyed it.

    "I’m a Chelsea, City, and Coventry fan, wherever I have had a relationship before. But if I had to pick one, it would be Bristol City of course; you don’t spend 13 years anywhere and not have a reason for them being number one."

    https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/my-club-alan-dicks/
     
    #1
  2. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    Great manager of his times and did achieve promotion to league 1 for little old Bristol City FC.
     
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  3. wings-of-a-crow

    wings-of-a-crow Well-Known Member

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    remember when he first arrived, I was aged about 14 and definitely underwhelmed, I wanted the big name someone we knew and recognised, how wrong can you be,
     
    #3
  4. Reliant Robin TC2

    Reliant Robin TC2 Well-Known Member

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    Totally agree! Took him 9 years though with the support of an understanding chairman. Sound familiar?
     
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    Last edited: Mar 18, 2020
  5. johngalleyfan2

    johngalleyfan2 Well-Known Member

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    the likes of John Galley,[ City hall of fame endorsement ]
    Bobby Kellard. now there is a player vastly under rated and mostly forgotten … KEN Wimshurst always easily recognisable . jet black hair?
     
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  6. Reliant Robin TC2

    Reliant Robin TC2 Well-Known Member

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    Remember the Kellard shuffle where he looked as though he'd over-ran the ball, then brought it forward with his trailing foot?? Went past numerous opposition players with that one!!
     
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  7. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    Bobby Kellard, Chris Crowe, Ken Wimshurst, John Galley and Mighty Mike Gibson jumping for the crossbar, now you are talking, great days, great memories and to follow Gerry Sweeney, Gary Collier, Geoff Merrick, Gerry Gow, Brian Drysdale,Paul Cheesley,Tom Ritchie,Chris Garland and Donnie Gillis.
     
    #7
  8. Reliant Robin TC2

    Reliant Robin TC2 Well-Known Member

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    I'd forgotten about that. He was a short-arse for a goalie wasn't he? <laugh>
     
    #8
  9. wings-of-a-crow

    wings-of-a-crow Well-Known Member

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    short in stature, but a massive personality,
     
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  10. Angelicnumber16

    Angelicnumber16 Well-Known Member

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    Gibbo and co - all legends, plus Alan Dicks himself of course.

    My earliest recollection of the Dicks era was us going to Watford on the final day of the season (maybe 1969) and desperately needing a win to avoid relegation. We got the 2 points with a 2-0 win and the rest as they say, is history. Glory years were to follow in the league and Cups
     
    #10
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2020

  11. Red Alert

    Red Alert Well-Known Member

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    Nope!! I can name Dicks sides nowadays I cant remember last seasons or its formation. squads like an army now swell.
     
    #11
  12. Reliant Robin TC2

    Reliant Robin TC2 Well-Known Member

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    The season City got promoted there was a squad of 17 players, 10 of whom played 30 or more games.

    That, to me, is the ideal situation, but it took a lot for AD to get to that point. There was a lot of really **** football in the early 70's before we got to a position to be promoted. Even then, in true Bristol City fashion, we almost ****ed it up!!!
     
    #12
  13. johngalleyfan2

    johngalleyfan2 Well-Known Member

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    for a period of time "G" was key
     
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