INTO THE ARCHIVES: MIKE DIXON
Mike Dixon - Fylde RUFC 1978-1998 - a tribute by David Kerr David Kerr said: “Club members will have, hopefully, noticed that over the last couple of years many displays of memorabilia, portraits, shirts and photographs have been put up around the clubhouse, over 100 in total. The
“No lesser an alumni than Mark Nelson told me that if he had the pick the finest XV players for his all-time greats of the Club that Mike Dixon would be his automatic choice for hooker. A former captain of the Club told me that Mike was “probably the most accomplished all
original idea to create these displays was that of Mark Cadley who asked The Friday Club if they could complete the work and they readily agreed to do so. Alan Cavanagh created the work on the portraits and also made many of the frames. “One of the biggest challenges was the display created for one of the Club’s true legends, Mike Dixon. For this display The Friday Club joined forces with the Fylde Ladies and they jointly paid for and arranged for the display to be put up at the foot of the main staircase in the clubhouse. “Mike made his debut v Otley on 4th November 1978 and over the next 20 years made 416 appearances for the Club scoring 195 points, a remarkable achievement, for a hooker, considering the days of the “rolling maul” had not yet dawned. He was strong, talented and extremely mobile. He served Fylde as hooker, captain and coach and is a true legend of the Club. And he earned recognition way beyond the Woodlands being selected many times for Lancashire and eventually England ‘A’.
round player that has played for the Club.” A huge accolade considering some of the rugby talent that has appeared for the Club over many years. [Former 1st XV & Cumbrian centre and then Head Coach of Fylde and Cumbria, Stuart Connell, was asked about the best skipper he had played under. He took a nanosecond before naming Mike Dixon who he said was an inspirational leader.] “Thanks go to Mark, Allan, Fylde Ladies and Friday Club for creating the display for one of the Club’s greatest players. “When next you are walking up the stairs give yourself some time to look at the display, read the letters from the RFU and remember one of the Club’s all time stalwarts.”
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