Alan Dicks
Encyclopedia
Alan Dicks is a retired English
football
er and football manager. He managed Bristol City
for thirteen years and managed clubs in five countries on three continents.
Born in London, he signed for Chelsea
at the age of 17, though his playing time in the first team was limited to 35 matches in six years, during this time he completed his 2 years national service with the R.A.F and so only played one game in Chelsea's 1954-55 championship season
. In 1958 he moved to Southend United
, and in 1962 joined Coventry City
as Assistant Manager/Coach under Jimmy Hill
.
In 1967 Hill recommended him for the vacant manager's job at Bristol City
. He took the job at the age of just 33, and held it for thirteen years. In that time he consolidated City's position in the Second Division
, and eventually, in 1976, led them to promotion to the First Division
- then English football's top flight. Dicks remained as manager throughout City's four-year stay in Division 1, but relegation and a poor start to the following season saw him leave in October 1980. Subsequently, City suffered three relegations in as many years.
During the 1980s, Dicks managed clubs in Greece
, Cyprus
and Qatar
(where he won the championship with Al Rayyan Sports Club).
He managed Fulham Football Club
for one season in the early 1990s before he was sacked.
After leaving Fulham he moved to the United States
and subsequently became head coach of Carolina Dynamo
and then Charleston Battery
in the A-League
. He has now retired and returned to Bristol
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er and football manager. He managed Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
for thirteen years and managed clubs in five countries on three continents.
Born in London, he signed for Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
at the age of 17, though his playing time in the first team was limited to 35 matches in six years, during this time he completed his 2 years national service with the R.A.F and so only played one game in Chelsea's 1954-55 championship season
1954-55 in English football
The 1954–1955 season was the 75th season of competitive football in England, from August 1954 to May 1955:-Overview:* Chelsea win the League Championship for the first time.* Newcastle United win the FA Cup....
. In 1958 he moved to Southend United
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...
, and in 1962 joined Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
as Assistant Manager/Coach under Jimmy Hill
Jimmy Hill
James William Thomas "Jimmy" Hill OBE is an English association football personality. His career has taken in virtually every role in football, including player, union leader, coach, manager, director, chairman, television executive, presenter, analyst and match official.-Early life:Hill was born...
.
In 1967 Hill recommended him for the vacant manager's job at Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. He took the job at the age of just 33, and held it for thirteen years. In that time he consolidated City's position in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, and eventually, in 1976, led them to promotion to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
- then English football's top flight. Dicks remained as manager throughout City's four-year stay in Division 1, but relegation and a poor start to the following season saw him leave in October 1980. Subsequently, City suffered three relegations in as many years.
During the 1980s, Dicks managed clubs in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
(where he won the championship with Al Rayyan Sports Club).
He managed Fulham Football Club
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
for one season in the early 1990s before he was sacked.
After leaving Fulham he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and subsequently became head coach of Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
and then Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the A-League
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He has now retired and returned to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.