Julian Dicks

Julian Andrew Dicks (born 8 August 1968) is an English football coach and former footballer.

Veal recommended him to Villa manager, Ron Saunders, however Saunders lost his job at Villa on 9 February 1982.

When he was appointed as manager of Birmingham City nine days later, Veal also changed his employer.

Saunders was impressed when he watched Dicks play and he was offered a footballing apprenticeship with Birmingham City in 1982 when Dicks turned 14.

He started his footballing career at Birmingham City, aged 14, having moved from his home in Bristol.

Playing from 1985 until 2002, he was a left back, notably in the Premier League for West Ham United and Liverpool.

Playing as an apprentice he worked his way through the youth and reserve set-ups before making his debut in 1985 in a 2–0 away defeat to Chelsea.

He would go on to make eight appearances in the 1987-88 season, his first season with West Ham.

The following season, he became a regular player and first choice left back for The Hammers, starting the first game of the season, a 4–0 away defeat to Southampton and playing 34 of a possible 38 games that season.

The season also saw his first goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat at Highbury to Arsenal.

In 1988, he was signed by manager John Lyall for West Ham United, for £300,000, giving him the chance of First Division football that Birmingham's relegation in 1986 had denied him.

Although Dicks had been booked 33 times and sent-off once in all competitions, in his four seasons with Birmingham City, Lyall identified potential in the player enthusing "There was a great touch there. I wouldn't have signed just a physical player".

Dicks made his debut for West Ham on 2 April 1988 in a Division One game against Sheffield Wednesday.

West Ham lost the game 2–1.

His first penalty success came on 23 September 1989 proving to be the only goal in a win against Watford.

A future regular captain of the West Ham side, this season also saw his first captaincy, in a League Cup game on 19 September 1989 against his former club, Birmingham City, with manager Macari telling him "I'm making you captain today and I'm making you penalty taker too".

Dicks was often cautioned and sent off by referees.

His first red-card was in a match versus Wimbledon in the Football League Cup in the 1989–90 season.

It was an infamous encounter which included an on-pitch brawl between the opposing players.

The fighting was sparked by a two-footed tackle by Wimbledon player, Dennis Wise on Dicks.

Six players were booked with the game being described as "a disgrace to football" by journalist, Brian Woolnough.

West Ham finished 7th in a season which saw the departure of Lou Macari and the appointment of former player, Billy Bonds as manager.

He was voted West Ham's player of the year four times between 1990 and 1997.

He also played in the Football League for Birmingham City where he started his footballing career, ending it in 2002 in non-league football with Canvey Island.

He became manager of Wivenhoe Town in 2009, before moving to Grays Athletic later that year.

He was capped by both the England U21 and England B sides.

He was known as a "hard man" adopting the nickname of The Terminator.

He was a tough tackler with a strong shot in regular demand as a penalty and free-kick taker.

Dicks had a reputation for poor on-field discipline which brought him to the attention of referees, the press and footballing authorities.

Dicks was born in Keynsham Hospital, Bristol to mother, Carol and father Ron who worked as a fork-lift truck driver for Courage Brewery.

Ron played non-league football with Keynsham Town, Welton Rovers, Frome Town and Shepton Mallet whom he would also go on to manage.

Dicks attended Novers Lane Primary School, in Knowle, Bristol and Merrywood Boys Secondary School also in Knowle.

At age 11 he was watched by former Tottenham Hotspur manager, Bill Nicholson who was scouting for West Ham United, but was turned down as he "was not quick enough".

At age 13 he was spotted playing by Ron Veal who was scouting for Aston Villa.

It was a poor season for West Ham who were relegated to Division Two having finished one place off the bottom of the league in 19th place with 38 points.

Relegation had seen the sacking of manager John Lyall and the appointment of Scot, Lou Macari.

The new manager and Dicks exhibited a poor working relationship from the outset.

Despite this, and with West Ham now playing second-tier football, Dicks retained his left back position and became their regular penalty taker following the exit of former first choice taker, Ray Stewart.

Dicks became well known for his penalties.

During his West Ham career he scored 35, missing four.