Players - Dave Hickson

Dave Hickson
Birthdate: 30 October 1929
Birthplace: Salford, England
Date of death: 8 July 2013
Other clubs: Ellesmere Port Town (1945-47), Everton (1947-55), Aston Villa (1955), Huddersfield Town (1955-57), Everton (2 / 1957-59), Cambridge City (1961-62), Bury (1962), Tranmere Rovers (1962-64), Ballymena United (1964-65), Ellesmere Port Town (2 / 1965), Northwich Victoria (1966), Winsford United (1967-69), Fleetwood
Signed from: Everton (2)
Signed for LFC: £12,000, 06.11.1959
Liverpool debut: 07.11.1959
Last appearance: 29.04.1961
Debut goal: 07.11.1959
Last goal: 22.04.1961
Contract expiry: July 1961
Win ratio: 55.22% W:37 D:14 L:16
Games/goals ratio: 1.76
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 4 / 1
League games / goals: 60 / 37
Total games / goals: 67 / 38

Player Profile

Hickson's move from Everton to Liverpool caused an uproar among supporters on both sides. Hickson, with his signature blonde quiff, was a big star at Everton and their fans were disgusted with him for leaving for Liverpool and Reds' fans were horrified that the club's board would even contemplate signing a player from Everton. Hickson signed professional forms with the Blues in 1948 having honed his striking skills under the tutelage of goalscoring great Dixie Dean. Hickson's enthusiasm for the game sometimes got the better of him and he was no stranger to suspensions after being dismissed by referees on more than one or even two occasions. He was prolific in front of goal and scored 71 goals in 151 games for the Blues from 1951-1955, the majority of the games being played in the Second Division. Everton were promoted to the First Division in 1954, but after only one season in the top-flight, Hickson moved to first division Aston Villa. He only stayed two months there before joining Huddersfield where a certain Bill Shankly coached the reserves and took over as manager a year later in November 1956. Liverpool could have snapped him up in 1957 but decided against paying £6,000 for him so Everton moved in and he scored further 40 goals in 92 games on his return.

"The Cannonball Kid" certainly took a bold decision when he had just passed his thirtieth birthday when he crossed Stanley Park. Liverpool manager, Phil Taylor, hoped Hickson would be the man whose goals would take Liverpool back into the First Division. Hickson was relieved after signing the contract: "I am very pleased indeed that I have signed for Liverpool after a week of uncertainty and I know my wife and family share my feelings. It has been an anxious time for me recently, but everything is all right now. I am delighted. I just want the Liverpool fans to know that I will always do my best for them and the club as I have done at Everton." It was a strange coincidence that Hickson played his last senior game for Everton at Anfield defeating Liverpool 2-0 in the Floodlight Cup on 28 October before making his Liverpool debut on the same ground against Aston Villa on 7 November. Hickson had a night to remember as he was given a big kiss by a Liverpool supporter before the game started which proved a good-luck charm. His second goal of the game in Liverpool's 2-1 win was a tremendous flying header that showed his bravery and as the Liverpool Daily Post reported: "With victory in the air, Anfield erupted. Dave had found a new home, where adulation, spontaneous and overwhelming, promised to outdo anything he had known before." A month after signing for Liverpool, in December 1959, Hickson was again playing under Shankly. Hickson made a slow start under his former manager but from middle of February he scored 15 goals in 15 games but Liverpool came up short again. Hickson was less effective in his second season as well as his strike partner, Roger Hunt. Shankly brought in Ian St John in 1961 which signalled the end of Hickson's Anfield adventure. Hickson is the best-known of the trio that has been at all three of Merseyside's major clubs: Liverpool, Everton and Tranmere Rovers. The other two players are John Heydon and Frank Mitchell.

Hickson returned to Ellesmere Port Town as player-coach in 1965 and proved he had lost none of the fire in his belly. A Cheshire league cup game against Macclesfield Town on 11 September 1965 had to be abandoned after 84 minutes as Hickson refused to leave the pitch after being sent off. The tie was subsequently awarded to Macclesfield. Hickson has been a tour guide at Goodison Park for a number of years and played charity football until he was 77 years old! It needed a heart attack to stop him lacing his football boots! Hickson is truly revered as a legend at his former clubs as he earned the respect of fans, opponents and teammates alike during his historic career.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 60 4 3 0 0 67
1959-1960 27 2 0 0 0 29
1960-1961 33 2 3 0 0 38
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
5 450 Leyton Orient
4 360 Sunderland
4 360 Ipswich Town
4 360 Bristol Rovers
4 360 Charlton Athletic
4 360 Rotherham United
4 360 Lincoln City
3 270 Luton Town
3 270 Huddersfield Town
3 270 Middlesbrough
3 270 Derby
3 264 Sheffield United
2 180 Plymouth Argyle
2 180 Swansea City
2 180 Brighton & Hove Albion
2 180 Stoke City
2 180 Portsmouth
2 180 Aston Villa
2 180 Norwich City
2 180 Leeds United
2 180 Southampton
1 90 Coventry City
1 90 Manchester United
1 90 Scunthorpe United
1 90 Cardiff City
1 90 Hull City
Total Venue
37 Home
30 Away
Total Competition
60 League
4 FA Cup
3 League Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
61 33 14 14 54.1% Bill Shankly
4 3 0 1 75% Caretaker Manager
2 1 0 1 50% Phil Taylor
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 37 0 1 0 0 38
1959-1960 21 0 0 0 0 21
1960-1961 16 0 1 0 0 17
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 07.11.1959 Aston Villa Anfield League
50 17.12.1960 Leeds United Elland Road League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 54 07.11.1959 Aston Villa Anfield League
Related Articles
The Cannonball Kid

Chris Wood reviews James Corbett's new book.

The opponents know how to provoke Hickson

Dave Hickson given a break by the Football Association. Published on 11 February 1960.

Sunday Sermon for Hickson

Footyscene.com remembers Dave Hickson who died 8 July 2013.

My fame and face are my misfortune

Daily Mail report on 11 February 1960.

Hickson again Liverpool's main hope

Liverpool Daily Post report on Lincoln City - Liverpool on 14.11.1959.

Liverpool new boys star turns

News Chronicle and Daily Dispatch report on Liverpool - Rotherham United on 18.04.1960.

Hickson's best for Liverpool

Empire News report on Liverpool - Swansea Town on 20.02.1960.

Lethal Leishman snuffs Hamilton

The Daily Express report on Liverpool - Sheffield United on 16.01.1960.

Dave Hickson from Everton to Liverpool

Dave Hickson's transfer from Everton to Liverpool caused quite a stir at the time!

Two goals make Dave's dream debut

Match report from Liverpool - Aston Villa on 07.11.1959 from Liverpool Daily Post.

Scrapbook
Anfield made me feel at home - November 1959
Anfield made me feel at home - November 1959
Football Monthly poster
Football Monthly poster
Football Montly - April 1961
Football Montly - April 1961
Hickson sent off for the third time - 16 January 1960
Hickson sent off for the third time - 16 January 1960
Hickson sent off! - 16 January 1960
Hickson sent off! - 16 January 1960
Hickson's appeal
Hickson's appeal
Interview in the Liverpool Echo - February 2008
Interview in the Liverpool Echo - February 2008
May 1961
May 1961
Shankly starts storm
Shankly starts storm
Where are they now? - Liverpool club magazine
Where are they now? - Liverpool club magazine
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Ellesmere Port Town 1945-1947 Cheshire County League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Everton 1951-1952 England Second Division 31 14 33 14
Everton 1952-1953 England Second Division 27 12 32 16
Everton 1953-1954 England Second Division 40 25 43 28
Everton 1954-1955 England First Division 39 12 41 13
Everton 1955-1956 England First Division 2 0 2 0
Aston Villa 1955-1956 England First Division 12 1 12 1
Huddersfield Town 1955-1956 England First Division 26 9 27 9
Huddersfield Town 1956-1957 England Second Division 28 19 33 22
Everton 1957-1958 England First Division 35 9 37 12
Everton 1958-1959 England First Division 39 17 43 22
Everton 1959-1960 England First Division 12 6 12 6
Cambridge City 1961-1962 Southern League Premier Division N/A N/A N/A N/A
Bury 1961-1962 England Second Division 8 0 8 0
Tranmere Rovers 1962-1963 England Fourth Division 33 19 37 23
Tranmere Rovers 1963-1964 England Fourth Division 12 2 15 2
Ballymena Utd 1964-1965 Irish League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Ellesmere Port Town 1965 Cheshire County League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Northwich Vict. 1966 Cheshire County League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Winsford United 1967-1969 Cheshire County League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Fleetwood 1969 Northern Premier League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total 344 145 375 168