please log in to view this image A statue of an "all-time great" Portsmouth Football Club player is due to be unveiled. The statue of Jimmy Dickinson will be unveiled at Fratton Park, Portsmouth at 12 noon. He hold the record for most appearances with the club - more than 800 in all competitions as a left-half between 1946 and 1965. The statue, commissioned by the club and the Pompey Supporters' Trust, will remain on permanent display. Donald Vass, treasurer of the trust, said the sculpture was the "perfect legacy of the club's 125th anniversary year". "This statue will honour the greatest footballer in the club's history and inspire future generations of players and supporters," Mr Vass said. Dickinson played for the club when it was crowned champions of England in the 1948-49 and 1949-50 seasons. He also earned 48 caps for the England national team. He then became Pompey manager between 1977 and 1979 before he died in 1982 aged 57. Pompey chief executive Andrew Cullen said Dickinson was not only one of the club's best ever servants but also "an individual truly recognised throughout the game as one of football's all-time greats". "Jimmy is the very embodiment of the Pompey spirit and it is therefore fitting that all who visit the stadium will be reminded of both his contribution to Portsmouth Football Club and his outstanding legacy to the game of football," Mr Cullen said. The statue has been created by award-winning sculptor Douglas Jennings and funded through donations of Pompey supporter groups and fans.
I must be one of the few that saw Jimmy Dickinson play although only in the latter stages of his career. I saw him play a couple of times in Pompey's last division 1 season and subsequently in Div 2 and one season in div 3. As a then young spectator I found him less spectacular than I expected someone who had played 40+ times for England to be. After watching him a few times I started to appreciate that his great skills were not of the spectacular kind. He read the game brilliantly. Rarely caught out of position himself, he would often slot in for others when they were caught out. Once in possession he rarely lost it -always finding a pass. He was fiece in the tackle but always went for the ball - a fact that I think helped to contribute to the fact his long career was relatively injury free. If playing today Jimmy would have difficulty maintaining his yellow cardless record. He had a great sliding tackle which, although he would usually get the ball before the man. I think it would be less tolerated by today's referees. Also, if the ball was going over his head to a opposition forward in a dangerous position he wouldnot hesitate to pull the ball down with his hand - it was not a yellow card offence in those days! I can still recall his last game at Fratton Park. It was a privilege to have seen him play. Like many privileges it has become more appreciated with the passing of time. It is so fitting that Jimmy should be honored with a statue and the Supporters Trust should be congratulating for recognizing the importance to the club history of a player few would be lucky enough to have seen. PUP
I also saw Jimmy play in 1962 a few times, after we had moved down to Portsmouth from Surrey when I was young, and agree he was a majestic player! I am a member of the Portsmouth Supporters Trust, and confirm that they do a lot of hard work behind the scenes, to the benefit of the club.
