GoS: Player Details

WILL DIXON

Note: There is some evidence that he was commonly known as Arthur, but the reason is not known. He had two brothers who were also on the Argyle books, but who did not play for the first team: Andrew Armour Dixon and Joseph Armour Dixon.

Full Name: William Armour Dixon (also known as Arthur)

Born: 27 January 1887

1. Came from: Fulham Went to: Career interrupted by WW1

1. First game: 10 December 1910 Last game: 01 May 1915

2. Came from: Career interrupted by WW1 Went to: Barrow

2. First game: 30 August 1919 Last game: 05 February 1921

Appearances: 204 (204/0) Goals: 45

Dixon was born in Willington-on-Tyne, near Newcastle, in 1887. He played local football for Willington Athletic, Crawcrook Villa and Newcastle City. City were originally formed as Byker East End, and played in the North Eastern League. The name had been considered as an option when the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End led to the formation of Newcastle United in 1892 but was later picked up by the Byker non-leaguers. City only lasted from 1911-1915.

Having left City, Dixon turned professional with Fulham in 1909. He made just a single appearance there, which was his Football League debut, before joining Argyle for a fee of £300 in December 1910. Over the next seven seasons, either side of World War One, he made 204 appearances for the club (mainly in the Southern League), scoring an impressive 45 goals, of which, the last 17 appearances and the last two goals, were in the Football League, as Argyle joined that level. His appearances were primarily at outside-left, but he also played at inside-left when required.

Dixon's speed caused the opposition great problems and the club handbook of 1911-12 states that he "is probably the fastest forward in England. Acts like a pacemaker in a forward line and has a great shot". The 1911 census also showed that he lodged with two other Argyle players and team-mates, George Malcolm and Archie Walker in Pennycomequick.

In late August 1920 he played in Argyle's first ever Football League fixture, a home game against Norwich City, and was involved in the build-up to the first goal, scored by Jimmy Heeps, as the match ended 1-1.

The following year Dixon left Home Park, finishing his career with a short spell at Barrow in the newly formed Division Three (North) playing four games in the 1921-1922 season.

Although from the north-east of England, Will’s two brothers Andrew and Joe were also on Argyle’s books, but neither of them ever played for the first team.

Returning to the north-east, records showed he spent time as a boilermaker in later life, once his footballing career was over.

Dixon passed away, back in his native Newcastle, in 1964 aged 76.

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APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]

The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.

I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.

The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.