Martin Dobson
FullnameJohn Martin Dobson
Birth date14 February 1948 (age 78)
Birth placeRishton, England
Height5 ft 9 in[1]
PositionMidfielder
Years 11966–1967
Years 21967–1974
Years 31974–1979
Years 41979–1983
Years 51983–1985
Clubs 1Bolton Wanderers
Clubs 2Burnley
Clubs 3Everton
Clubs 4Burnley
Clubs 5Bury
Caps 10
Caps 2224
Caps 3190
Caps 4186
Caps 561
Totalcaps661
Goals 10
Goals 243
Goals 329
Goals 420
Goals 54
Totalgoals96
Manageryears 11984–1989
Manageryears 21991
Manageryears 31991
Manageryears 41998–2000
Manageryears 52010
Managerclubs 1Bury
Managerclubs 2Bristol Rovers
Managerclubs 3Northwich Victoria
Managerclubs 4Bolton Wanderers Academy
Managerclubs 5Burnley (Caretaker)
Nationalyears 11970
Nationalteam 1England U23
Nationalcaps 11
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 21974
Nationalteam 2England
Nationalcaps 25
Nationalgoals 20

Martin Dobson (born 14 February 1948) is an English former professional football player and coach. A midfielder who was an England international, he was the first player to be transferred for £300,000, when Everton bought him from Burnley in August 1974.

Club career

He was born in Rishton and attended Clitheroe Royal Grammar School. He was signed as youngster by Bolton Wanderers who spotted him playing for Lancashire Grammar Schools. However, he was given a free transfer and moved on to Burnley.[2] He played for almost 20 years and totalling over 600 league appearances while playing for Burnley, Everton and Bury.

International career

He won five England caps overall, four while at Burnley and one while at Everton. His first England cap was awarded to him by manager Sir Alf Ramsey (because of FA Cup commitments of other players) on 3 April 1974, a 0–0 draw against Portugal. However, he impressed enough to win four more caps that year.

Coaching career

As well as finishing his playing career with Bury, Dobson became their manager until 1989. During this period they were promoted from the old Fourth Division and became an established Third Division side.[3]

Dobson was appointed manager of Bristol Rovers in July 1991, but was sacked after only 12 games in charge in October of the same year.[4] On 10 January 2010 he was appointed joint caretaker manager of Premier League side and former club Burnley, with Terry Pashley, after Owen Coyle left the club for Bolton Wanderers. However, Dobson and Pashley never managed a game due to the rapid appointment of Brian Laws. Laws kept Dobson on his coaching staff in the short-term as he built up his backroom staff. Dobson then returned full-time to his role as Burnley's director of youth development.[5]

Dobson left his post as director of youth at Burnley in October 2011 after his contract was not renewed by manager Eddie Howe who instead appointed his reserve team manager Jason Blake, from former club AFC Bournemouth, as academy manager. Dobson became the professional development co-ordinator at Everton in February 2018.

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure[6]
TeamFromToRecord
PWDLWin %
Bury1 March 198431 March 1989
Bristol Rovers2 July 19914 October 1991
Total

References

  1. ^ Dunk, Peter (ed.) (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. ^ Burnley v Sheffield United football programme, 11 March 1978, p8
  3. ^ Bury F.C.#Past managers
  4. ^ Byrne, Stephen & Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club – The Definitive History 1883–2003. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2.
  5. ^ "Laws Keeps Dobson And Pashley United". burnleyfootballclub.com. 14 January 2010. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012.
  6. ^ Managers: Martin Dobson, Soccerbase. Retrieved: 18 September 2023.