Martin Dobson
Personal information
Full name John Martin Dobson
Date of birth (1948-02-14) 14 February 1948
Place of birth Rishton, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1967 Bolton Wanderers 0 (0)
1967–1974 Burnley 224 (43)
1974–1979 Everton 190 (29)
1979–1983 Burnley 186 (20)
1983–1985 Bury 61 (4)
Total 661 (96)
International career
1970 England U23 1 (0)
1974 England 5 (0)
Managerial career
1984–1989 Bury
1991 Bristol Rovers
1991 Northwich Victoria
1998–2000 Bolton Wanderers Academy
2010 Burnley (Caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Martin Dobson (born 14 February 1948) is a former professional footballer and England international who played as a midfielder. He was the first player to be transferred for £300,000, when Everton bought him from Burnley in August 1974.

Playing 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 had a long and successful playing career, playing for almost 20 years and totalling over 600 league appearances while playing for Burnley, Everton and Bury.

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.

Managerial 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]
Team From To Record
PWDLWin %
Bury 1 March 1984 31 March 1989 269 96 76 97 035.7
Bristol Rovers 2 July 1991 4 October 1991 8 1 1 6 012.5
Total 277 97 77 103 035.0

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.
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