Joe Dixon’s

Football Memories

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1977

My Ryhope CA Career

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Some Stats

Total games played : 400+

Total goals scored may be in the region of : 500 See note 1 below

Highest no. of goals in a season was : 85 in 1972/73 See note 2 below

Highest no. of goals scored in a game. : 7 in both the 1969/70 and 1972/73 seasons.

Consecutive games I scored in : 11 in the 1969/70 season

None of my goals were penalties.

Never had my name taken.

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Note 1.

             The number of goals scored in the 4 seasons, that have been recorded, was 237. In the remaining 8 seasons to reach the 500 mark I would have to average about 33 per season. When I played for Seaham Red Star in 1976/1977 season a report from the 19/2/1977 match program said 'I could always be depended upon to score 30-40 goals a season'. I believe this was written by Ernie Carlin, Ex Ryhope CA (which had folded in 1975 for 3 seasons). I think if I was scoring less than 30 a season I would have been replaced. So perhaps the 500 is a realistic figure. Who knows? And, probably more to the point, who cares.

Note 2.

            In a 1980/81 ‘CA match programme I was credited with scoring 89 goals. The extra 4 were, I think, probably 2 own goals and 2 which were George Dixon’s

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Regarding all the trophies, including 'Runners Ups', in the above period, there were 4 players, Brian Page, Harry Clark, Norman T Taylor and myself, that were involved in them all.

Brian's playing career was from 1968 - 1979 and was Captain in most of them.
Harry's 1967 - 1975
Norman's 1964 - 1975

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My Best Goal

This was probably the one against Usher Moor St Josephs. A left foot volley from possibly 25 yards. It was from a long through ball, from Billy Mitchell, from inside our own half on the right wing and although being challenged by their centre half, I hit the ball before it landed. It obviously took the goalkeeper by surprise because he didn’t move and the c.h was obviously waiting for the ball to land before making his challenge. The c.h. looked totally dejected as I’m sure he didn’t think he’d done anything wrong and he said ‘how do you score a goal like that?’ I shrugged my shoulders because I didn’t have an answer.

My Worst Miss

This was against Thorns S.C. in the Durham Hospitals Cup Final when I rounded the keeper to the left and approaching the open goal from an angle tried to flick the ball into the net from about 3 feet with the outside of my right foot. The ball bobbled and it hit the top of my foot and it went to the wrong side of the post. Although we won 1-0 and I scored the winner, which I can’t remember anything about, I felt more depressed after the game than the losers.

Favourite type of goal

From back passes. Second favourite would have to be headers as there weren't too many.

Least favourite

Those deflected into the net.

Other Club Service:-

Helped Bill Bond to form the club in 1963.

Served on the committee for most seasons

Took over as secretary to stop the club from folding in 1970/71.

Puzzled ?

Since I've been sorting out information for this website I came across the above 1980/81 'CA programme. In it is an article, about Billy Anderson and myself, written by Ernie Carlin. Considering the above, and the sacrifice Billy made to his playing days to keep the club going, I’m a bit puzzled as to why Norman T Taylor didn’t think we merited a mention in the previous programme, when naming players who had worn the clubs colours with distinction. I now wonder who he did mention. It's nice to think someone appreciated what Billy and I did for the 'CA. Thanks Ernie.

Ernie made a reference to the number of goals I must have scored in my career as being well over the 1000 mark. This was very kind of Ernie, and I very much appreciate what he said about me, but I think he may have included the goals in the pre-match kick abouts. It has made me think though and for my own curiosity, at some time, I'll try and make an honest assessment of what range that number might be in.

I must admit that the remark ‘Joe came to us .....’ made me smile as there was no one there before me.

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