Dave Hickson

David "Dave" Hickson (30 October 1929 – 8 July 2013) was an English professional footballer who played for Everton, Aston Villa, Huddersfield Town, Liverpool, Cambridge City, Bury & Tranmere Rovers

Dave Hickson is one of only 3 players to have played the three Merseyside league clubs still in existence: Everton, Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers. The other two players being John Heydon and Frank Mitchell. New Brighton were football league members from 1923–51: Bill Lacey and Neil McBain played for all three of Everton, Liverpool and New Brighton. Finally, John Whitehead played for Liverpool, Everton and also for Bootle in their one year as a league team (1892–93), before they were replaced in Division 2 by local rivals Liverpool FC.

Club career

Dave Hickson started his football career as a teenager with non-league Ellesmere Port, where his robust style and keen eye for goal were noticed by the Everton manager Cliff Britton. He signed for the Toffees in 1948, but National Service in the army would delay his debut for another three years. Some of this time spent playing for the Cheshire Army Cadets team, and it was with them that he was coached by the Everton legend Dixie Dean. It is fairly safe to assume that Dave developed the physical side of his game in this period. Hickson made his debut for Everton in September 1951 against Leeds United, with the Blues in the Second Division for only the second season in their history. Hickson was soon a regular fixture in the Everton side, and his physical approach as centre forward, coupled with his determination soon made him a crowd favourite. Off the pitch, Hickson was a different man, quiet and unassuming, but the Dave Hickson that pulled on a Blue shirt and entered battle every Saturday afternoon was an aggressive character, no quarter given or asked. This aggression would lead to several run-ins with officials, and three sendings off during his career, but that was his style & the fans loved it. A youthful Hickson with his striking appearance, fully quiffed up with a shock of blonde hair, as was the style of the day, was one of the few things to get excited about on the terraces of Goodison Park. Dave Hickson soon forged a productive partnership with John Willie Parker, with Hickson being the target man. Although his reputation as an aerial threat was well known, Hickson was also a difficult opponent with the ball on the floor, and could produce a powerful shot, which earned him the nickname Cannonball Kid. Perhaps the defining moment in Dave's career came in Everton's FA Cup run in the 1952/3 season. The Blues were still in Division Two, and the cup was to provide some well needed excitement for the Goodison Park faithful. Two home wins against Ipswich Town & Nottingham Forest pitched Everton into the Fifth round, where they would draw the awesome Manchester United. A feverish crowd of 77,920 packed Goodison Park on 14 Feb 1953 expectant of a thrilling encounter, and they would not be disappointed. United had the better of early exchanges and as expected took the lead just before the half hour. Everton were lifted just minutes later, when Tommy Eglinton nipped in to score an equaliser lifting the crowd and inspiring Everton. Just before Half Time Dave Hickson launched himself headlong in amongst flying boots and emerged with a huge gash above one eyebrow. Hickson was lead off down the tunnel, with the crowd fully expecting Everton to play the remainder with 10 men, as substitutes were not yet permitted. Dave Hickson had other ideas. He emerged from the tunnel in the second half, greeted by a huge ovation from the crowd, with a row of freshly applied stitches holding the wound together. Minutes later Hickson applied the finish that would end up as the winning goal, and the crowd went wild. Hickson then headed against the post and opened the wound again, and the blood began to pour in torrents, but still he soldiered on, ignoring pleas from both the referee and his captain to leave the field. At the final whistle, his blond hair now red, and his shirt the same colour as the Man Utd ones, he left the field to an ovation probably never bettered at Goodison. Dave Hickson was also the match-winner in the quarter final against Aston Villa, with a thunderbolt shot from the edge of the box, after starting the move himself behind the halfway line. An epic year for cup ties this, as Everton next faced Bolton Wanderers at Maine Road. Hickson again received a head injury in this game, and was forced to retire with 15 minutes of the game to go. This was not until he'd scored a goal in an improbable comeback from 4-0 down at half time. The final score was 4-3, with Bolton going on to be defeated by the same score against Blackpool in the final. Everton weren't to be down in the Second Division for long and a major factor in their return to Division One was Dave Hickson's haul of 25 goals in the 1953-54 season to get them promoted to the top flight, where they remain to this day. After just 1 season back in the First, Dave was sold to Aston Villa for £17,500 in 1955, to the surprise of many. He never settled at Villa And played just 12 games in a brief stay, before moving on to Huddersfield Town, where he spent a further 2 years. Again, although his record at Huddersfield was respectable, Hickson was not content and was happy to return to Goodison for a second spell in 1957 for £7,500. At least the board made a tidy profit on these deals. Hickson's second spell was not as productive as his first, but his passion & determination remained, and the Goodison Park faithful still worshipped him. So much so, that when Everton sold him to their oldest enemy Liverpool in 1959, there was much dissent. Hickson was undoubtably revered at Everton, but equally despised by the red half of the city. The reds, struggling at the time in Division Two would soon be appeased, as Dave scored twice on his Anfield debut, watched by a crowd 15,000 higher than the average that season, most of them there to see Hickson. Just a matter of days later Liverpool had a new manager, a man by the name of Shankley, who was instantly impressed by Dave Hickson's style and used him effectively. His return of 21 goals in 27 games that season almost took Liverpool back to the top flight. Another near promotion the following year and a return of 16 goals in 33 would see the end of Hickson's stint with Liverpool. Dave was now nearing 32 and had to make way for Shankly's new signings. Hickson moved on, via non league Cambridge City, to Bury for a short spell, playing just a handful of games before heading back to Merseyside in the twilight of his career, with a productive last couple of league seasons at Tranmere Rovers. He was Rovers' leading scorer in the 1962/3 season with 23 goals, at the age of 34. Dave continued in the non league game, playing for Ellesmere Port Town & Ballymena United (player manager for both), and as a player at Winsford & Northwich Victoria. . Everton, though, was the club with which he had the greatest affinity and he once famously said that "I'd break any bone in my body for any club I play for…but I'd die for Everton" http://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/319 http://www.evertonfc.com/history/dave-hickson.html http://www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com/629.html http://www.htafc.com/news/article/club-news-dave-hickson-rip-902897.aspx

Post career

On 8 July 2013, Hickson died after a short illness, at the age of 83.[2][3] His funeral service was held on 25 July 2013 at Liverpool Cathedral. [4]

Tranmere Rovers posted a message on their website saying: 'Hickson spent two seasons at Prenton Park in the 1960s after also playing for Everton and Liverpool.' https://soundcloud.com/radiocity967/dave-hickson-funeral-bill?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_content=https://soundcloud.com/radiocity967/dave-hickson-funeral-bill

References

External links

• Everton FC Profile
• Profile at LFCHistory.net
• Legends Feature from barmyarmyuk Blog

• Dave Hickson at the Internet Movie Database