Richard Dinnis
Encyclopedia
Richard Dinnis is a radio football
commentator who was briefly manager
of Newcastle United
in 1977. He currently works as a football commentator for BBC Radio Lancashire
, commentating on local football games in North West England.
Lancashire teaching Geography
and Physical education
. He obtained his Football Association
coaches badge and then was employed as reserve team coach at Blackburn Rovers
. When their manager, Gordon Lee
took over as manager at Newcastle United, he appointed Dinnis as first team coach. During the 1975-76 season Dinnis was a peripheral figure. Dinnis himself said that his main job was to "collect the balls at the end of the training session". At the start of the 1976-77 season Dinnis took over the coaching duties with Lee picking and motivating the team.
manager, Ian Greaves
but he turned the job down. The board made a surprising attempt to involve some players in the decision over who should be the next manager. It led to one of the most controversial months in the club history and to the appointment of Dinnis as Caretaker manager
until the end of the season.
Under Dinnis, the team's form was such that they found themselves with an outside chance of the League championship, but would lose four of the last five games. Nevertheless, Newcastle finished the season in fifth place in the First Division
and qualified for the UEFA Cup
with a win over Aston Villa
in their final home game of the season on 16 May 1976. It was the clubs highest league position for 25 years and the first time they had qualified for Europe for seven years. Nine days later and after much boardroom deliberation and alleged disagreement, Dinnis was offered a two year contract as Newcastle manager.
, however they then lost the next three matches. In September they lost at home to West Ham United
and the Directors issued Dinnis with an ultimatum before the next game at West Bromwich Albion
which they again lost 3-0; a result which left Newcastle bottom of the league. Newcastle then met Irish Premier League
club, Bohemians
in the UEFA Cup, a game they were expected to win, but they drew 0-0. The next game Newcastle again lost 3-0, this time to Birmingham City
, followed by a fourth consecutive defeat to Coventry City
. Dinnis survived despite crisis board meetings. However, following criticism of the board by Dinnis in the media, he was sacked as manager on 9 November 1977.
Dinnis was in charge for only six months and 21 games. His overall record was nine wins, seven draws and five defeats.
He coached the Philadelphia Fury
of the North American Soccer League in 1978, but was fired mid-season and replaced by player-coach Alan Ball
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...
commentator who was briefly manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in 1977. He currently works as a football commentator for BBC Radio Lancashire
BBC Radio Lancashire
BBC Radio Lancashire is the BBC Local Radio service for the county of Lancashire, in North West England. It began as BBC Radio Blackburn on 26 January 1971 on 96.4FM, then adding 854 kHz AM in 1972 and changing to its current name on 4 July 1981...
, commentating on local football games in North West England.
Background
Dinnis never played professional football, only ever playing amateur football. He was a schoolteacher in DarwenDarwen
Darwen is a market town and civil parish located within Lancashire, England. Along with its northerly neighbour, Blackburn, it forms the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen — a unitary authority area...
Lancashire teaching Geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
and Physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
. He obtained his Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
coaches badge and then was employed as reserve team coach at 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....
. When their manager, Gordon Lee
Gordon Lee (footballer)
Gordon Francis Lee is a former English footballer and football manager.A right-back during his playing days, he moved from Hednesford Town to Aston Villa in 1955...
took over as manager at Newcastle United, he appointed Dinnis as first team coach. During the 1975-76 season Dinnis was a peripheral figure. Dinnis himself said that his main job was to "collect the balls at the end of the training session". At the start of the 1976-77 season Dinnis took over the coaching duties with Lee picking and motivating the team.
Caretaker manager
When Gordon Lee suddenly resigned as manager in early 1977 after only 18 months in charge, the Newcastle board first offered the job to the Bolton WanderersBolton 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....
manager, Ian Greaves
Ian Greaves
Ian Denzil Greaves was an English football player and manager. He was born in Crompton, Lancashire. He won a League Championship medal and an FA Cup runners-up medal while playing fullback for Manchester United between 1953 and 1960...
but he turned the job down. The board made a surprising attempt to involve some players in the decision over who should be the next manager. It led to one of the most controversial months in the club history and to the appointment of Dinnis as 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...
until the end of the season.
Under Dinnis, the team's form was such that they found themselves with an outside chance of the League championship, but would lose four of the last five games. Nevertheless, Newcastle finished the season in fifth place in 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....
and qualified for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
with a win over Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in their final home game of the season on 16 May 1976. It was the clubs highest league position for 25 years and the first time they had qualified for Europe for seven years. Nine days later and after much boardroom deliberation and alleged disagreement, Dinnis was offered a two year contract as Newcastle manager.
Newcastle manager
Newcastle started the 1977-78 season with a 3-2 home win over Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, however they then lost the next three matches. In September they lost at home to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
and the Directors issued Dinnis with an ultimatum before the next game at West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
which they again lost 3-0; a result which left Newcastle bottom of the league. Newcastle then met Irish Premier League
Irish Premier League
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
club, Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
in the UEFA Cup, a game they were expected to win, but they drew 0-0. The next game Newcastle again lost 3-0, this time to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, followed by a fourth consecutive defeat to 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...
. Dinnis survived despite crisis board meetings. However, following criticism of the board by Dinnis in the media, he was sacked as manager on 9 November 1977.
Dinnis was in charge for only six months and 21 games. His overall record was nine wins, seven draws and five defeats.
He coached the Philadelphia Fury
Philadelphia Fury
The Philadelphia Fury was a soccer team based in Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Among the club's investors were rock musicians Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon. The team played at Veterans Stadium....
of the North American Soccer League in 1978, but was fired mid-season and replaced by player-coach Alan Ball
Alan Ball
Alan Ball may refer to:* Alan Ball , American screenwriter and director* Alan Ball, Jr. , English footballer and manager* Alan Ball, Sr. , English footballer and manager...