Football League honour for Morecambe stalwart

Dickie Danson, former assistant manager, director and head of youth, was the Shrimps’ nominated person as a new Football League Hero award was unveiled on Sunday night to recognise a stand out contribution from individuals involved with the 72 clubs.

The 73-year-old was forced to reduce his workload a couple of years ago due to illness but he is still senior academy scout and match day co-ordinator.

Danson was instrumental in creating the Shrimps’ youth development programme in partnership with Lancaster & Morecambe College which produced a string of players including Danny Carlton, Dave Perkins and Garry Thompson.

He was also heavily involved in founding the club’s EPPP programme in 2012.

Head of Youth Stewart Drummond said: “At 73 years of age, Dickie still occasionally drives the team minibus to home and away games.

“In his match day co-ordinator role, he is the first point of contact for our opponents and is responsible for making the arrangements for home fixtures, liaising with match officials to confirm their appointments and pay their expenses, and also reporting the result to Opta and completing our team sheet following each game.

“No one person at Morecambe FC can be said to have fulfilled more roles over such a long period of time than Dickie Danson, from caretaker manager of the first team to being synonymous with the club’s youth development programme.

“For nearly 25 years he has been working tirelessly for the betterment of Morecambe FC behind the scenes in an understated, but richly appreciated manner.”

Shrimps director Rod Taylor said: “Dickie is a credit to himself and he shows unbelievable dedication in everything he does at the club, having helped out with the first team, reserves and youth team during my time at Morecambe.

“He’s a great person and an absolute credit to the club, Mr Morecambe as I regard him.

“I recall one Christmas Day, a few years ago, when we were trying to protect the Christie Park pitch from snow and the freezing weather ahead of the Boxing Day fixture, and both our wives were on the phone as we’d delayed Christmas dinner in our two households to continue working on the pitch!”

Each of the 72 people nominated will receive a special commemorative glass plaque to mark their inclusion in the list.

It is the first time that every one of the 72 Football League clubs has been honoured at the annual awards ceremony to mark the 10th year of the event.