ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Dave Hickson

Today is the 80th birthday of Dave Hickson who, to we "Old Evertonians" who go back to the 50s was a Roy of the Rovers hero who was idolised for his great performances in the famous No 9 blue shirt. Happy Birthday, Dave, & thanks for all those wonderful memories of yesteryear.
Ian Jones, Poole, Dorset Posted 30/10/2009 at 17:39:29

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Keith Glazzard
1 Posted 31/10/2009 at 00:02:33

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Thanks Ian.

As an Ellesmere Port lad myself I have many a soft spot for the hardknock knocker-in. The fact that he was me dad’s office boy at Stanlow has nothing to do with this.

God bless all those footballers who have given so much to us - and happy birthday to Mr Hickson, or Don David as we would call him out here.

Jay Harris
2 Posted 31/10/2009 at 00:56:21

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Ian you ’ve prompted us to join in with your good wishes; as a baby (honest), I was at a game where Dave apparently got a bad head wound.

In those days you couldn't get stitches on the sidelines so he just got bandaged up and came straight back on, scored with his head shortly afterwards and celebrated with blood pouring out of his wound. Imagine the "bling bling" stars of today.

In fact I posted recently querying why Yobo’s "head injury" kept him out for 3 games.

Anyway if you’re looking in, Dave... Happy birthday and many more of them.

Tony Hyland
3 Posted 31/10/2009 at 01:04:53

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If I could just add one more to the mix, apart from seeing Dave score some great goals. my one real abiding memory of him was against Plymouth Argyle in I think 1953. He got king hit by their Centre half, flat on the floor, then he got up to score in the match which the Blues won 8 - 4, also John Willy Parker got 4.

Dick Fearon
4 Posted 31/10/2009 at 04:59:21

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Word had got out that my idol was about to be transferred, a photo of me holding one end of a banner appeared in the in the Echo. It was snapped outside the players entrance and said... If Davy Goes, I Go. He went, he came back, I never did go.

I remember a game vs Rotherham, their centre half was a big lad by name of Noble and built like a brick dunny. Unseen by the referee, Noble king-hit our Dave in the first minute and escaped punishment. Dave was carried off on a stretcher but returned later. He went straight to Noble and dropped him with a right cross.The referee saw that one and sent Dave off.

This happened in those days before red cards, yellow cards and substitutes. Bless you Dave and thanks for many unforgettable memories.

Mike Galley
5 Posted 31/10/2009 at 10:49:22

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God bless and happy birthday Dave.

I remember a couple of years ago, my dad was ill and I bumped into Dave at Goodison, he was always my dad's hero so I asked if he would mind saying hello to dad if I gave him a quick phone on my mobile. Dave agreed, and half an hour later my phone battery was dead and all my credit was gone after the two of them chatted about the blues for a while!

Have a good day Dave and may you have many more.

Rob Williamson
6 Posted 31/10/2009 at 11:00:46

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Like Keith, I was born in Ellesmere Port and my dad said he’d take me to see Dave Hickson. Unfortunately the week before we went they sold him to Liverpool. We went to the game nevertheless and my two memories of that game were the guys on the pitch with placards saying ,"If Dave goes we all go" and, because my dad didn’t want to miss the bus home, missing the last 3 goals in a 6-1 win over Leicester.

That game was the start of a long love affair with the Blues and I’ll always be grateful to my dad — who as a kid was given a pair of Joe Mercer’s boots as they were neighbours in Ellesmere Port — for that first introduction. I met Dave Hickson years later on a tour of the ground and, when I explained that he was the reason I supported Everton, he apologised for not being there for the first game!! Top man!

Just out of interest, today is my 50th anniversary of watching Everton for the first time and I’ll be there hoping to cheer my best wishes to Dave Hickson — the man who started it all.

Andy Codling
7 Posted 31/10/2009 at 13:28:50

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Fucking proper gentleman, unlike the over-paid, over-rated, greedy bastards today.

Duncan McDine
8 Posted 31/10/2009 at 13:46:31

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My first time at Goodison was in the summer of 89 I think. My Dad had taken me to away games in the South, but our caravan holiday to Scotland, took a wee detour via Goodison. There was no one around, but Dave Hickson (who I didn’t know from Adam at the age of 9) showed us around the stadium — completely free of charge, and showed us the trophy room (which hasn’t had many additions since).

I remember being mesmorised by the quiff, almost as much as I remember the tour!

Happy Birthday to a true gent, and true Evertonian.

Colin Potter
9 Posted 31/10/2009 at 14:16:42

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Happy Birthday Dave, and thanks for all the wonderful memories you gave us.
He was definately one of the greatest uncapped players ever, he had the lot,
Tony Hyland, I was at that game as well, it was one of the few times I went in the Park End, brilliant game was’nt it? Can you remember the name of their centre half? By God they had some battles, Davey and him.

John McFarlane Snr
10 Posted 01/11/2009 at 16:19:26

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Colin, the centre half you refer to was Jack Chisolm, he and Dave certainly did have some epic tussles. You may recall that the bearded Chisolm bore a striking resemblance to the sailor on the Players cigarette packets.

I too was at that game as a 15-year-old, it took place in February 1954, the goal scorers were John Willie Parker [4], Dave Hickson [2], Cyril Lello, and Jock Lindsay [penalty].

Everton scored 20 goals in three consecutive League games, Derby County 6-2 [a], Brentford 6-1 [h], and Plymouth Argyle 8-4 [h].

Incidentally, Plymouth had beaten Everton 4-0 earlier in that season, 16 goals between them in two games, long before today's defensive mindset.

Roy Coyne
11 Posted 02/11/2009 at 20:47:59

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My first football hero. I even went to see his first game for the shite. My son in law got me his autograph last year and it's treasured. Thanks, Dave — you played it with your heart and never let us down.

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