Darlo Debs 4:32 Wed Oct 18
Why we loved him
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Julian Dicks - "Playing in Upton Park, for those fans, I still think about it every day, without fail.
I have photos of Upton Park in my house, and every six months or so, I go back to drive around the area because it was a massive part of my life and I miss it. It might sound crazy, but that’s how I feel about it, that’s how much it mattered to me...
I gave 100% in every game, and as a fan that’s all you want to see, someone who cares for the club, cares for the shirt, and cares for them. I did that. People work all week to pay for their match ticket, so all you had to do is give your best. West Ham’s fans have been with me through thick and thin, and whatever happened, never turned on me. Sometimes I overstepped the mark but I cared, and the supporters knew it."
Just thought I'd pop.this on for when you are having an I.miss the the good old days moment.
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Replies - In Chronological Order ( Show Newest Messages First)
WHU(Exeter)
4:46 Wed Oct 18
Re: Why we loved him
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Nice words.
His brother is assistant manager at a non-league team I go and watch, hope he gets down there for a game.
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Takashi Miike
4:59 Wed Oct 18
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loved watching him play, ahead of his time and criminally ignored by successive england managers. there's a couple of oddballs on here that hate him
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Coffee
5:01 Wed Oct 18
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He would have made a superb mentor to some of our recent players. Scamacca and Haller come to mind.
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zico
5:15 Wed Oct 18
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Said it himself he always gave 100%. Yeah you can mention the sending's off but if you took that away doubt he would have been the same player. Wand of a left foot, could tackle, pass, head the ball and shoot, great shame he had bad knees.
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Kaiser Zoso
5:15 Wed Oct 18
Re: Why we loved him
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Dec 28 1991
Notts County
Lost 0-3. Dicks returning from a long term knee injury. We started brightly, got bullied, conceded a couple of sloppy goals, then a third, it was all over with at least 10 minutes remaining.
Dicks was the only West Ham player who was bothered to try playing any football by that stage?
Massively impressed by his determination and effort that day. Maybe it was just personal and he wanted to get match fit as quickly as possible, but he stood out.
On the flip side, he did try to decapitate Paul Bernard whenever he got in range at Upton Park. I can't remember what Bernard did, but Dicks completely lost it with him for a spell.
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swindon hammer
5:19 Wed Oct 18
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A brilliant player for us and just watching that Robert Banks series on YouTube, some of the goals he scored during the 89/90 season were tremendous. What a left foot.
He was our star player from 89-94.
He was more naturally talented than Stuart Pearce but Pearce was probably more dedicated (when it came to keeping himself in shape and fitness) and disciplined which gave him the edge overall.
As for being a good mentor for the likes of Scamacca & Haller I would suggest not.
Don’t forget he was with us during the Bilic management era and I don’t recall him being talked about as being a mentor to anyone during that period. He’s never come across as that type of bloke in interviews to suggest he could do that.
Working with players on their crossing and shooting yes. A mentor for big foreign signings No!
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Coffee
5:25 Wed Oct 18
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Fair enough, Swindon. Good points. But I'd love to have seen just a fraction of his passion in those two.
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swindon hammer
5:33 Wed Oct 18
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Coffee,
I think Dicksy lead by example by the way he played but he was never a mentor or leader like Bonzo or Alvin.
As far as England goes it was his discipline that probably let him down.
I think during one season he got sent off 3 times. I seem to remember Billy Bonds literally having to drag him off the pitch at Derby.
It’s a travesty that he didn’t get at last one cap for England though although Bonzo not getting one was an even bigger travesty.
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zico
5:52 Wed Oct 18
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I seem to remember hearing a story that Dicksy was told to grow his hair if he wanted to play for England and Ian Bishop was told to cut his! Probably bollocks but with the FA I wouldn't be surprised!
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swindon hammer
6:11 Wed Oct 18
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Dicksy said he bumped into John Gorman (Glenn Hoddle’s assistant for England) on holiday and Gorman suggested he grew his hair out a bit and Dicksy told him to Fuck Off.
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Russ of the BML
6:38 Wed Oct 18
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Julian Dicks inspired me. He was a player that on a Saturday morning I thought of. I knew we wasn't as good technically as a alot of teams we played but he made me believe we could win. He inspired me to think that we could get a result against anyone. Because you knew when he went over the white line he would give everything. I would turn up and give my all as a supporter because I knew he was doing the same on the pitch. That may sound all teary eyed but its the truth.
I felt the same about Paolo and John Hartson. Alvin and Galey. They cared as much as the fans and would do anything to try and get that win.
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bigfrank
6:57 Wed Oct 18
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Met him a few times. Proper working class man
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icwhs
6:59 Wed Oct 18
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Fantastic player and leader, and an even nicer person.
He wrote the foreword for my book, a real West Ham legend (not a “twitter” legend like Declan)
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Mex Martillo
9:58 Wed Oct 18
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Yep fantastic player and not a bad keeper.
His commitment was inspiring. We have been lucky to have had a few defenders with that commitment and fight. It is a West Ham way as the support encourages that.
Nice post Debs.
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Gary Strodders shank
12:02 Thu Oct 19
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A true cult hero who gave us some great performances and many memories.
He had the natural ability to be a truly great player but in my opinion lacked the necessary discipline and professionalism to achieve that status..
Having said that if he did have the above attributes he probably wouldn't of been our Julian.
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Darlo Debs
1:02 Thu Oct 19
Re: Why we loved him
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Thanks Mex
He's one of my all time favourite Hammers
Thought we could all do with something to make us smile...everything feels a bit shit atm.
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Manuel
4:52 Thu Oct 19
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Nice to read that, I never heard him speak like that before. Collins says similar things, their whole life and who they are changed forever when they come to us.
Dicks is comfortably one of our most popular (and best) ever players, he was an absolute fucking hero, it seemed as if he was carrying the whole club at some points, can be forgotten sometimes.
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chim chim cha boo
5:12 Thu Oct 19
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There have been players in the past who showed much more commitment than Dicks, a player who could only really be made by West Ham. I guess that's why we love him.
Terrible trainer, used to fuck off early with no explanation, turned up at training on a Harley with no insurance, wouldn't warm up and drank 3 litres of Pepsi before a game. A proper chippy, angry cunt who loved kicking opposition players and stamping on their heads. An absolute loose cannon who could single -handedly lose you a game with his completely over the top aggression.
I loved him!
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isolated hammer
9:35 Thu Oct 19
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One of my fondest memories of Dicksy was the 4-3 win over Spurs on a Monday night. Could hardly talk the next day at work. Great game inspired by a great man.
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