There's only one Chris Dickson!
The former Dulwich Hamlet striker who swapped the pink for the red scored four goals in Charlton's 6-0 demolition of Portsmouth in the reserve game at The Valley last night. He can't play in the first team this year, but fans are already calling for his inclusion next season. There's a big gap between reserve and Premiership football, not least in the strength of defences, but Dickson clearly has something special.
Of course, Charlton has brought in players from non-league football before. Scott McGleish, having been signed from Edgware Town, had a number of cameo appearances at The Valley as a last minute sub and eventually found his level at Northampton and now at Wycombe.
This was also the destination of Paul Emblen whom we signed from Tonbridge Angels. He was loaned out to Brighton and then to Wycombe who eventually signed him for £60,000. He played for them from 1998-2002 when his career appears to have ended at the age of 26 (thanks to Rick Fisher for this information).
Dickson could well have been a Charlton academy player but failed to turn up for some reason at a trial when he was eleven years old. This just goes to show how much difference chance - and lucky breaks - can make in football. Leamington's Tom Bates has been on trial with Rochdale Reserves, but some people who have known him for a long time reckon his brother is the better player.
Leamington's Ben Mackey is a superb striker in the non-league and has an ability to turn on a ten pence piece (in the old days we would have said a sixpence). He made his début for Coventry City's first team at the age of sixteen.
Why the fall from grace? Someone said to me 'birds, burgers and beers'. The youngster is somewhat stocky, although he has been working hard this year to improve his personal fitness. More than likely he will be snapped up by another team higher up the pyramid with Nuneaton Borough being mentioned. Not everyone can have a Chris Dickson fairy tale. It will be interesting to see what he can do at a higher level.
Of course, Charlton has brought in players from non-league football before. Scott McGleish, having been signed from Edgware Town, had a number of cameo appearances at The Valley as a last minute sub and eventually found his level at Northampton and now at Wycombe.
This was also the destination of Paul Emblen whom we signed from Tonbridge Angels. He was loaned out to Brighton and then to Wycombe who eventually signed him for £60,000. He played for them from 1998-2002 when his career appears to have ended at the age of 26 (thanks to Rick Fisher for this information).
Dickson could well have been a Charlton academy player but failed to turn up for some reason at a trial when he was eleven years old. This just goes to show how much difference chance - and lucky breaks - can make in football. Leamington's Tom Bates has been on trial with Rochdale Reserves, but some people who have known him for a long time reckon his brother is the better player.
Leamington's Ben Mackey is a superb striker in the non-league and has an ability to turn on a ten pence piece (in the old days we would have said a sixpence). He made his début for Coventry City's first team at the age of sixteen.
Why the fall from grace? Someone said to me 'birds, burgers and beers'. The youngster is somewhat stocky, although he has been working hard this year to improve his personal fitness. More than likely he will be snapped up by another team higher up the pyramid with Nuneaton Borough being mentioned. Not everyone can have a Chris Dickson fairy tale. It will be interesting to see what he can do at a higher level.
posted by Wyn Grant at 5:10 AM
2 Comments:
WELL DONE BRO, YOU DESERVE THIS MAN, DON'T RUIN YOUR CHANCE AND DO THE BEST YOU POSSIBLY CAN !!!
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