Having made it from Suffolk football to First Division Tottenham, “Dickie” Dowsett scored on his Spurs debut. Yet he never played for their first team again and in 1955 became a Third Division player – for nine seasons, starting at Southend, where Frank Dudley, who had returned to his home-town, took a shine to Dickie.

Frank recommended him to Ted Bates, who was about to start his first full season as Southampton’s manager. Bates gave Dickie three outings: an FA Cup-tie against one of his future sides, Weymouth; and two League matches, one on each flank. The Saints finished that 1956-57 season with Terry Paine on one wing and John Sydenham on the other. A fee of £100 duly took Dickie to Bournemouth, where he flourished, top-scoring in three out of five seasons. Determined, fast and useful in the air, he commanded a fee of £3,500 when he now joined Crystal Palace, for three seasons during which they won promotion. He finished playing at Weymouth, where the Southern League was won in his first season. He then returned to Dean Court, spending 15 years on the administrative staff.

After which, Dickie remained in the town, employed as a production manager of a toy firm, while his wife, Cynthia, worked at The Dell, as secretary to the club’s Secretary. When Bournemouth decided to introduce a new club crest they used a silhouette of Dickie’s profile as a guide.

Sadly Dickie was later admitted into a care home owing to dementia and it was there he passed away in April 2020.