Martin Dobson

Martin Dobson

Personal information
Full name	John Martin Dobson
Date of birth	14 February 1948
Place of birth	Rishton, Lancashire, England, UK
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1966	Bolton Wanderers	0	(0)
1967–1974	Burnley	224	(43)
1974–1978	Everton	190	(29)
1978–1983	Burnley	186	(20)
1983–1985	Bury	61	(4)
National team
1970	England U23	1	(0)
1974	England	5	(0)
Teams managed
1984–1989	Bury F.C.
1991	Bristol Rovers
1991	Northwich Victoria
2010	Burnley (Caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Martin Dobson, popularly known as "Sir Dobbo", was born on 14 February 1948 in Rishton, Lancashire, England. He 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.

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 5 England caps overall, 4 while at Burnley and 1 at Everton. His first England cap was given to him on 3 April 1974 in a 0-0 draw against Portugal by manager Sir Alf Ramsey because of FA Cup commitments of other players. However, he impressed enough to win 4 more caps throughout the year.

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.^[1]

Dobson was appointed manager of Bristol Rovers in July 1991, however he was sacked after only 12 games in charge in October of the same year.^[2] 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.

Brian Laws, the Burnley manager at the time kept Dobson on his coaching staff in the short-term as he built up his backroom staff. Dobson had then returned full-time to his role of Director of Youth Development at Burnley.

Dobson left his post as director of Youth at Burnley in October 2011 after his contract was not renewed by manager Eddie Howe instead appointing his reserve team manager Jason Blake, from former club Bournemouth, as academy manager.

^[3]

Manager stats

Club	From	To	P	W	D	L	%Won
Bristol Rovers	2 July 1991	3 October 1991	12	1	2	9	8.3

External links

• Profile at EnglandFC.com

References

1. Bury F.C.#Past managers
2. Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club - The Definitive History 1883–2003. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2.
3. http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/LatestHeadlines/0,,10413~1931940,00.html