Jimmy Dickinson
Gentleman Jim
| Full name: | James William Dickinson |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: | April 25, 1925 |
| Date of death: | November 8, 1982 |
| Clubs played for: | Portsmouth |
| Clubs managed: | Portsmouth |
Club Career
Jimmy Dickinson spent his entire career at Portsmouth, playing 845 games for the club over 19 years, having made his debut in 1946. During that time he helped the club to win two successive top flight championship successes - and later worked for Pompey as PR officer and then secretary, before a two-year spell as manager.
Club Stats
| Years | Clubs | App | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946-65 | Portsmouth | 764 | 9 |
International Career
Dickinson made his England debut in 1949 against Norway, and was a regular for his country for eight years, playing in both the 1950 and 1954 World Cups. He won the last of his 48 caps against Denmark in 1957.
International Career Stats
| Years | Clubs | App | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949-57 | England | 48 | 0 |
Managerial Career
Dickinson spent two years in charge of Pompey in the late 1970s but, by then, the glory days of his early playing career had long been left behind. He managed to steer them clear of relegation to the Fourth Division in his first season, but was not so successful in his second term and he stepped down at the end of that campaign.
Key Games
Bolton 2-1 Portsmouth (First Division, April 23, 1949)
Dickinson was Portsmouth's defensive hero as they beat Bolton 2-1. He was playing despite a head wound which re-opened after just 10 minutes and had to be stitched up again at the end of the game. The pain was worth it, however, as Pompey's win - coupled with draws for Manchester United and Newcastle - meant they were English champions for the very first time.
Portsmouth 5-1 Aston Villa (First Division, May 6, 1950)
Portsmouth retained their title by one of the narrowest margins in history, beating Wolves into second place on goal average by just 0.396 of a goal. Dickinson was once more an inspiration in the 5-1 hammering of Aston Villa on the final day of the season, while Duggie Reid took the individual honours with a hat-trick.
England 2-0 Switzerland (World Cup group stage, June 20, 1954)
England made it to the last eight of the World Cup with a 2-0 win over host nation Switzerland. Dickinson played his part in keeping England's hosts at bay, leaving Jimmy Mullen and Denis Wishaw to score the goals at the other end. Sadly for England, their World Cup adventure ended in their next game as they lost their quarter-final 4-2 to Uruguay.
Honours
| Club | Competition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | First Division Championship | 1948-49, 1949-50 |
Did You Know...?
Dickinson earned his nickname 'Gentlemen Jim' because of his remarkable record of never being booked or sent off.
Only John Trollope of Swindon has played more league games for one club - 770 - than Dickinson's 764 for Portsmouth.
Dickinson's image can be seen in the seats in the Fratton End Stand at Fratton Park.
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