Some of you may not know that my grandad and great-grandad both played professional football. Here are some things i found online that have interested me about them.
From Martin Tyler’s Q&A blog on Sky Sports.com:
Hi Martin, with Darren Ferguson taking the reins at Peterborough United, I was wondering if this is the first time a father and son have managed in the league at the same time? Dan Higgins, Dartford
MARTIN SAYS: It has happened on at least one occasion before Dan, and not only did the father and son in question manage at the same time, they also came up against each other in a game – albeit in the cup. In the 1970 FA Cup first round, Bill Dodgin Snr took his Bristol Rovers side to Fulham, who were managed by one Bill Dodgin Jnr. For the record dad got the upper hand with a 1-0 win and just to add a personal note, Bill Dodgin Snr took over the local sweet shop where I grew up in West Byfleet and on meeting my father – also a West Byfleet shopkeeper – and hearing about my love for football, promptly gave me a load of football programmes which I still have to this day!
From Arsenal.com:
BILL DODGIN
England U-23 centre-half Bill Dodgin starred as Arsenal finished third in the top-flight in 1958/59. Initially an amateur with Southampton, he followed his father of the same name to Fulham in September 1949 and joined Arsenal for £4,000 in December 1952. He twice helped the Gunners reach the FA Cup sixth round and made 191 First Division appearances before rejoining Fulham for £7,000 in March 1961, featuring in their 1961/62 FA Cup semi-final replay defeat. Subsequently coach at Millwall, he managed QPR, Fulham, Northampton Town (twice), Brentford and Woking, then was Brighton’s chief scout. He died in June 2000.
About Great-Grandad from Fulhamfc.com:
When the Second Division title was won, Fulham turned to Southampton, the team that was pipped at the post for promotion, for a new team manager.
Bill Dodgin had enjoyed a successful spell at the Dell since his appointment, his first as a manager, in June 1946. Before the war, he been a wing half with Huddersfield, Lincoln, Charlton, Bristol Rovers, Clapton Orient and Southampton, and at 39 years of age, he was not only one of Fulham’s youngest managers (about the same as Kelso and Ducat) but he was one of the youngest in the First Division.
He found it tough going. The Cottagers were probably not good enough for the top flight and, apart from buying three or four players in the summer of 1950, seemed unwilling to spend the money necessary to keep them there.
After two seasons of struggle, they were relegated in the third. Dodgin was given another season in charge but mid table in 1952-53 was not good enough and in the autumn of 1953 he was on his way, first to Brentford and then Sampdoria.
From 1961 until his retirement in 1972, he was associated in various capacities with Bristol Rovers. Dodgin always claimed that he was unlucky at Fulham, Haynes and Robson were just breaking through, but not soon enough. He did not help his own cause, however, letting the popular Len Quested move to Huddersfield and playing his own son, Bill junior.
About Grandad from Fulham as well:
In the chaos that followed Robson’s sacking in November 1968, Johnny Haynes took over the reins temporarily, but he had no desire to fill the role on a permanent basis.
On the Maestro’s recommendation, his friend and former Fulham defender, Bill Dodgin junior, took the job the next month, the second time a father and son had managed the Cottagers.
After leaving Fulham for a second time in 1964, Dodgin had won plaudits for his coaching skills, first at Millwall but especially at QPR where his partnership with Alec Stock lifted Rangers from the Third to the First Divisions.
There was little he could do to save Fulham from a second relegation in 12 months, and so the Cottagers kicked off Dodgin’s first full season in the Third Division for the first time in almost 40 years.
Open attacking football was the only way Dodgin knew how to play and since the nucleus of the side had First Division experience, the policy worked at a lower level. Within two years, promotion was won and but for a home defeat on the final day, the Third Division title would have come Fulham’s way.
This same attacking policy did not work back in Division Two in 1971-2 and relegation was on the agenda until the final matches and the controversial loan signing of Alan Mullery. Despite beating the drop, Dodgin was shown the door by chairman Tommy Trinder, much to the chagrin of the supporters. In his subsequent career, at Brentford and Northampton, Dodgin enjoyed success in the lower divisions by sticking to his attacking principles. For a few months in 1994, by then in his sixties, he was back at the Cottage as youth development officer but this role ended with the club’s relegation that summer.
About Great-Grandad, comparing him to Matt Busby – he wasn’t quite that good…:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19991022/ai_n14282059
Finally, a good quote from Jackie Graham about Grandad:
http://www.legendspublishing.net/cultbees2.html
My favourite quote from my grandad is the following:
“At times I think I’m too much of a liberal. I think you’ve got to be a bit of a fascist with women and footballers.”
Anyone interested in coming with me to the Ireland vs. Argentina game on the 30th September at the Rugby World Cup this year? Tickets are £25. Should be a good game as well.
“England did nothing in the World Cup, so why are they bringing books out? ‘We got beat in the quarter-finals, we played like shit, here’s my book’. Who wants to read that? I don’t.”
Amen, Joey Barton, Manchester City’s midfield “talisman”. The worst one for me (with no Arsenal bias here…) is Ashley “Mr Cheryl Tweedy, £55,000 a week is a piss take but £60,000 is fine” Cole. Who wants to read the “autobiography” of a 25-year-old egomaniac? What has he done? FUCK ALL, that’s what. Rooney’s is pretty appaling as well. Autobiographies are supposed to tell you about your life experiences… Rooney has been alive for less than half of what he can expect, so how can he write an autobiography? He hasn’t done anything. I use the word “write” loosely here, being as none of these idiot footballers have enough brain cells to spell their own names let alone write a whole book. It sickens me.
Another major tournament, another defeat for England on penalties. I could be negative and have a go at the Portuguese or the manager or whatever, but I really want to draw any positives i can from this World Cup from an English perspective.
Firstly, the speed and guile shown by Aaron Lennon when he has played marks him out, for me, as a future England star. He really scared defenders with his pace.
Furthermore, many of the players present at this World Cup still have one more left in them. The likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry should all be able to play at the next World Cup and this defeat will only serve as inspiration next time they take to field for England in a World Cup.
This World Cup sees the end of the line for some great England players. Although David Beckham is much maligned, he has always given his best for England and has turned games with his set pieces and crosses. He has been an influential player as captain. Gary Neville may also call time on his career. Although I’ve never been his biggest fan, he brought a wealth of experience to the right back position and will be difficult to replace.
Finally, plaudits must go to Owen Hargreaves. He’s always been lambasted by the press, but he proved just how good he was against Sweden and Portugal. Hopefully, his heroics will not be forgotten.
Just remember people, its not all doom and gloom if you’re an England fan. We can take a lot from this World Cup and look forward to the next European Championships.
Finally: COME ON GERMANY!!!!!
I’m gettin so good at this. So far I have made 4 predictions. They have all been wrong.
A message to all teams in the World Cup: If i predict you will win, prepare for failure at the next hurdle. I am the death knell for any teams World Cup hopes.
The only thing I have left to say: COME ON PORTUGAL!!!
Well, it’s clear that my predicting skill are, at best, poor. I’ve got 2.5 of those 3 wrong. I say 2.5 as the Czechs need a miracle victory over Italy to go through to the next round. Or the USA need to draw with or beat Ghana and the Czechs only need a draw. Its all to complex for me. The main point is, it’ll be very difficult for them to go through. If they do, I still don’t back them to go far.
My new predicted champions are a team i said before the tournament i would never ever back: Spain. They crushed Ukraine and after looking shaky against Tunisia, came from behind to score an impressive victory. They have quality strikers in Fernando Torres, David Villa, Jose Antonio Reyes and veteran Raul, an awesome midfield including Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia of Liverpool.
Current Price at Blue Square: 7/1
Love Dodge xxx
The World Cup’s kicked off n all that shenanigans. Thought I’d give you my top-tips for the world cup. If any of you are gambling people, i’ve got hold of some good odds off the net (ladbrokes, if you’re interested).
1) Togo to beat Korea in their first game – 12/5 – Togo are a good side, led by Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor. Add to that that Korea have never won a game when they havent hosted the tournament and Togo look good for that game.
2) Ivory Cost to draw against Holland – 11/5 - Despite losing to Argentina, Ivory Coast are a good side. Holland looked good against Serbia but i reckon Ivory Coast might have enough to pull off a draw against the Orange Army.
3) My final punt, off bluesq.com is Czech Republic to win the tournament – 18/1 - The Czechs have an ageing squad but on their day they are a match for any team they meet. Plus, in Pavel Nedved, they have a player of supreme quality who can change the game and in Petr Cech, a goal keeper who is unlikely to concede many goals this tournament.
That is all
Dodge xxx
Since last time i posted. Have definitely got over Arsenal's loss. Mainly cos Henry signed a new contract. HOORAY!
In other news, went out on Saturday night to see the rather wonderful Decemberists. Put on an awesome show, well supported by Howling Bells. Thanks to Tom and Alice for letting me come along. And to Viki for letting me stay on Saturday night. Sorry i kept you up most of the night. Not in that way, anyone who wasnt there.
Sundays are always dull. Especially when you're really tired. And need to do revision. Like i did . Still, Top Gear was funny.
And today was dull. ALthough i did sleep off my tiredness after saturday night.
Love Dodge xxx
ARGH! I cannot believe Arsenal lost. So frustrating. Held out with 10 men for the best part of 70 minutes only to be undone by a goal that was BLATANTLY offside. Dodge is not happy. Still, looks like old Theirry might be staying. Wouldn't be the wisest thing to do, calling potential future team mates a bunch of diving cheats. Accurate portrayal though, bunch of diving arseholes. You can't expect to be called the best team in the world if you're players don't at least try to stay on their feet when they're tackled. Henry put it well at the end "Maybe if I learned how to dive we could have won the game". Too right. The barca defenders kept hacking at him for the enter game. In the end, the referee lost us the game, as he repeatedly ignored extreme tackles from Barcelona players. In my opinion, they were lucky to end the game with 11 men on the pitch.
Rant status=over. for now.
