Boys of '86 star Alan Dickens reveals his very own tale of two clubs to Ian 'Moose' Abrahams
Broadcaster Ian ‘Moose’ Abrahams begins a week-long series of interviews with the players who became West Ham United’s Boys of ’86 – starting with a revealing conversation with midfielder Alan Dickens…
When a subject was suggested to me for today’s Moose Meets… I thought he had a great idea. I said to myself ‘It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done’ in speaking to Dickens – not Charles, but Alan.
You see, as Alan will explain to you, his time at Upton Park could be summed up in true Dickensian language: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
I met Alan earlier in the week in the home dressing room here at the Boleyn Ground – an area which has changed considerably since the early 1980s, when Alan made his debut.
Tall, with an eye for goal from midfield and wearing No10, having come through the ranks he was seen as the next Trevor Brooking.
I put it to Alan that there were Great Expectations on him when he got into the first team.
“I think at the time, being a young player and with Trevor Brooking being such an amazing footballer, it was an honour and a privilege to be linked with his name,” said Alan.
“It kind of happened when I was 13 or 14 when I played district games and people said that I played a bit like Trevor and it kind of stuck. But, as time went on it became a real burden.
“I was bought up watching Trevor play and he was outstanding. Even in training he was a fantastic footballer and I think the shoes were too big for me to fill.”
Despite being labelled the next Brooking, Dickens never spoke to the Hammers legend.
“I never, ever spoke to Trevor about football at all. I was a young apprentice while Trevor was here so never spoke to him about football. I don’t know why, but he never said for me to do this or to do that.
“I think, as young players at West Ham, you were in awe of the first team players, you were bought up that way. We knocked on the dressing room door and asked if we could pick up the kit, and being a fan they were my idols – not just Trevor but the likes of Billy Bonds too.”
When a subject was suggested to me for today’s Moose Meets… I thought he had a great idea. I said to myself ‘It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done’ in speaking to Dickens – not Charles, but Alan.
You see, as Alan will explain to you, his time at Upton Park could be summed up in true Dickensian language: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
I met Alan earlier in the week in the home dressing room here at the Boleyn Ground – an area which has changed considerably since the early 1980s, when Alan made his debut.
Tall, with an eye for goal from midfield and wearing No10, having come through the ranks he was seen as the next Trevor Brooking.
I put it to Alan that there were Great Expectations on him when he got into the first team.
“I think at the time, being a young player and with Trevor Brooking being such an amazing footballer, it was an honour and a privilege to be linked with his name,” said Alan.
“It kind of happened when I was 13 or 14 when I played district games and people said that I played a bit like Trevor and it kind of stuck. But, as time went on it became a real burden.
“I was bought up watching Trevor play and he was outstanding. Even in training he was a fantastic footballer and I think the shoes were too big for me to fill.”
Despite being labelled the next Brooking, Dickens never spoke to the Hammers legend.
“I never, ever spoke to Trevor about football at all. I was a young apprentice while Trevor was here so never spoke to him about football. I don’t know why, but he never said for me to do this or to do that.
“I think, as young players at West Ham, you were in awe of the first team players, you were bought up that way. We knocked on the dressing room door and asked if we could pick up the kit, and being a fan they were my idols – not just Trevor but the likes of Billy Bonds too.”
Dickens career began with him winning the FA Youth Cup in 1981. Alan told me he was still a schoolboy at the time and went to school the day after lifting the trophy!
His first-team debut came against Notts County at Meadow Lane in December 1982.
“We had a lot of injuries and John Lyall told me on the Friday that I was going to play. Notts County were quite a decent team, but I don’t think I was nervous, I was just looking forward to it.
“All my family all drove up to Nottingham to watch, but I didn’t know until I got home afterwards that they got stuck in traffic and didn’t get there until half-time, and I scored after six minutes so it was a real disappointment for me and for them.
“It was such a surreal day. I can’t remember anything really about the game or even the goal, but I think I got the bus home from Upton Park and I remember standing in my street, thinking ‘Did that really happen?’.
“No-one was at home for me to talk to as they were coming back from the game. I went out that night with my mates to a party and didn’t believe it had happened until I saw the papers the next day, and even then thought ‘Was that really me?’.”
His first-team debut came against Notts County at Meadow Lane in December 1982.
“We had a lot of injuries and John Lyall told me on the Friday that I was going to play. Notts County were quite a decent team, but I don’t think I was nervous, I was just looking forward to it.
“All my family all drove up to Nottingham to watch, but I didn’t know until I got home afterwards that they got stuck in traffic and didn’t get there until half-time, and I scored after six minutes so it was a real disappointment for me and for them.
“It was such a surreal day. I can’t remember anything really about the game or even the goal, but I think I got the bus home from Upton Park and I remember standing in my street, thinking ‘Did that really happen?’.
“No-one was at home for me to talk to as they were coming back from the game. I went out that night with my mates to a party and didn’t believe it had happened until I saw the papers the next day, and even then thought ‘Was that really me?’.”
The first chapter in Dickens’ career had been written and the rest of the season was a success.
“I stayed in the team and played 15 games that season, scoring six goals, but I didn’t realise what was happening. You don’t realise when you’re 18 what’s going on – you just go out and play football.
“The money never came into it. When I broke into the first team, I was still an apprentice and think I got £25 a week.”
Alan was a member of the side which finished third in 1985/86 but, in 1989, left for Chelsea. Looking back, Stamford Bridge proved to be a bit of a Bleak House for Alan.
Born and bought up in the East End, why did the self-confessed Hammers fan leave for west London?
“I look back and ask the same question to myself,” said Alan with a heavy sigh, “the main reason was that John Lyall got the sack that summer and there was a whisper that Lou Macari was going to be the manager and that things were going to change at West Ham.
“I had no intentions of leaving whatsoever, but I was friends with the son of the Chelsea manager Bobby Campbell and he rang me lots of times saying he wanted me to join.
“Even when I signed for Chelsea, I should have been on such a high, but the feeling was never there and I thought to myself I perhaps should have stayed where I was.
“I was 24, had been bought up in West Ham, still lived round the corner, my Mum was round the corner and perhaps I should have stayed here.”
Contrary to popular opinion it was not injuries that meant Alan was not a success at Stamford Bridge. In fact, Alan is completely honest – it was probably down to him.
“I should’ve been a little bit stronger, Chelsea’s changing room was completely different to West Ham’s. At West Ham, everyone looked out for each other, while at Chelsea it was every man for himself and I’m not very good at that. I like being part of a team.
“They had some strong personalities – Graham Roberts had been at Spurs, Peter Nicholas was the captain of Wales, there were Kerry Dixon, Dennis Wise and Andy Townsend, all strong characters. They’d been the top players at their teams and all wanted to be the top man. If you didn’t look after yourself, you got left behind and I got left behind. I have no regrets. It makes you the person you are.”
There’s always MORE you could write when it comes to Dickens. Alan’s story is a real down to earth, honest story.
Speaking to Dickens was a novel idea ahead, and his story is one of how the grass isn’t always greener elsewhere.
*This interview originally appeared in the Official Programme for the visit of Chelsea in October 2014.
“I stayed in the team and played 15 games that season, scoring six goals, but I didn’t realise what was happening. You don’t realise when you’re 18 what’s going on – you just go out and play football.
“The money never came into it. When I broke into the first team, I was still an apprentice and think I got £25 a week.”
Alan was a member of the side which finished third in 1985/86 but, in 1989, left for Chelsea. Looking back, Stamford Bridge proved to be a bit of a Bleak House for Alan.
Born and bought up in the East End, why did the self-confessed Hammers fan leave for west London?
“I look back and ask the same question to myself,” said Alan with a heavy sigh, “the main reason was that John Lyall got the sack that summer and there was a whisper that Lou Macari was going to be the manager and that things were going to change at West Ham.
“I had no intentions of leaving whatsoever, but I was friends with the son of the Chelsea manager Bobby Campbell and he rang me lots of times saying he wanted me to join.
“Even when I signed for Chelsea, I should have been on such a high, but the feeling was never there and I thought to myself I perhaps should have stayed where I was.
“I was 24, had been bought up in West Ham, still lived round the corner, my Mum was round the corner and perhaps I should have stayed here.”
Contrary to popular opinion it was not injuries that meant Alan was not a success at Stamford Bridge. In fact, Alan is completely honest – it was probably down to him.
“I should’ve been a little bit stronger, Chelsea’s changing room was completely different to West Ham’s. At West Ham, everyone looked out for each other, while at Chelsea it was every man for himself and I’m not very good at that. I like being part of a team.
“They had some strong personalities – Graham Roberts had been at Spurs, Peter Nicholas was the captain of Wales, there were Kerry Dixon, Dennis Wise and Andy Townsend, all strong characters. They’d been the top players at their teams and all wanted to be the top man. If you didn’t look after yourself, you got left behind and I got left behind. I have no regrets. It makes you the person you are.”
There’s always MORE you could write when it comes to Dickens. Alan’s story is a real down to earth, honest story.
Speaking to Dickens was a novel idea ahead, and his story is one of how the grass isn’t always greener elsewhere.
*This interview originally appeared in the Official Programme for the visit of Chelsea in October 2014.