Dickinson: Martin John (Martin)

1980-1986 (Player Details)

Central Defender

Born: Leeds: 14-03-1963

Debut v Middlesbrough (h): 02-04-1980

5’10” 11st (1985)

Dickinson, who made his First Division Debut only three weeks after his seventeenth birthday, starred with Foxwood School, Leeds City Boys and Yorkshire Schoolboys before joining the Elland Road staff. He did not turn professional until May 1980 and went on to play a useful role in defence, also figuring as a ball-winning midfielder. He became a regular under Eddie Gray until Andy Linighan and Neil Aspin were installed in central defence and he moved to West Bromwich Albion for £40,000 in February 1986 on the same day that Leeds signed Brendan Ormsby from Aston Villa. He scored twice and made forty-six starts and four substitute appearances in the Leaguefor the Baggies before David Bassett signed him for Sheffield United in July 1988. He had only played one game as a substitute for the Blades when his progress was halted by injuries resuling from a car crash. He sustained whiplash when his vehicle was hit from behind, which left him unable to use his neck muscles when heading a ball. Finally he was forced to give up the game. He had a laundry business for a while but then started a window cleaning business with his son in Sheffield. A keen horse-racing enthuisiast, he also breeds and races his own pigeons.