Gary Dicker
{{short description|Irish footballer (born 1986)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Gary Dicker
| image = Gary Dicker Brighton vs Spurs.jpg
| caption = Dicker playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2011
| full_name = Gary Richard Perry Dicker{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/2247219 |title=2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=10 September 2021 |access-date=12 September 2021}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|7|31|df=y}}{{Hugman|22834|access-date=9 December 2018}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = {{nowrap|Crown Legacy}} {{nowrap|(manager)}}
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Cherry Orchard
| years1 = 2004–2007
| clubs1 = UCD
| caps1 = 69
| goals1 = 5
| years2 = 2007
| clubs2 = → Birmingham City (loan)
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2007–2009
| clubs3 = Stockport County
| caps3 = 55
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2009
| clubs4 = → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)
| caps4 = 9
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2009–2013
| clubs5 = Brighton & Hove Albion
| caps5 = 129
| goals5 = 5
| years6 = 2013–2014
| clubs6 = Rochdale
| caps6 = 12
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2014
| clubs7 = Crawley Town
| caps7 = 11
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2014–2016
| clubs8 = Carlisle United
| caps8 = 39
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2016–2021
| clubs9 = Kilmarnock
| caps9 = 158
| goals9 = 3
| years10 = 2021–2022
| clubs10 = Brighton & Hove Albion
| caps10 = 0
| goals10 = 0
| totalcaps = 482
| totalgoals = 16
| nationalyears1 = 2005
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U19
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2006
| nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U21
| nationalcaps2 = 4
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| manageryears1 = 2024–
| managerclubs1 = Crown Legacy
}}
Gary Richard Perry Dicker (born 31 July 1986) is an Irish football coach and former professional player who is the head coach for MLS Next Pro side Crown Legacy FC, the reserve side of Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC.
He started his career with League of Ireland club UCD and went on to make more than 200 appearances in the English Football League, most notably with Brighton & Hove Albion, then spending almost five and a half years with Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock before semi-retiring in 2021 when he returned to Brighton and became a player-coach for Brighton & Hove Albion U23s. Dicker played for his country of Ireland at under-19 and under-21 level. After retiring as a player, he joined the coaching staff at Brighton, and since September 2022 has been assistant head coach of the club's U21 team.
Club career
=UCD=
Born in Dublin, Dicker began his career at League of Ireland side UCD. He joined from his local junior club Cherry Orchard and was gradually introduced into the first team through substitute appearances towards the latter end of UCD's successful 2004 First Division campaign. Dicker progressed his way into a regular starting position the following season and successfully partnered Tony McDonnell in central midfield for the 2005 and 2006 Premier Division seasons. During his time at UCD he earned underage honours for Ireland at under-19 and under-21 level.
In the 2006 League of Ireland close season he spent a loan spell at Championship side Birmingham City, but he never made it past the reserve team. He made his debut for the Birmingham City reserves against Stoke City Reserves, which Birmingham won 3–0. The Birmingham reserve team coach, Keith Bertschin, described Dicker as a "very decent player. He's a good technical player, who can see and put in some lovely weighted passes and is decent with both feet".
=Stockport County=
Dicker was signed by manager Jim Gannon for Stockport County on 29 May 2007, for a fee of just £40,000, signing a contract until 1 July 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.stockportcounty.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10419~1030658,00.html |title=Deal done |publisher=Stockport County F.C. |date=29 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011111645/http://www.stockportcounty.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10419~1030658,00.html |archive-date=11 October 2017}} He played a regular part in Stockport's 2007–08 League Two campaign and took part in a promotion for the second time in his career as County successfully negotiated their way into League One via the playoffs. Dicker was a fan favourite during his time at Stockport for his passing ability and off the ball work rate. Dicker scored his only goal for Stockport in November 2008, opening the scoring in a 5–0 win in an FA Cup first-round tie at home to Yeovil Town.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7726996.stm |title=Stockport 5–0 Yeovil |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 November 2008 |access-date=11 October 2017}}
=Brighton & Hove Albion=
File:Gary Dicker.jpg in 2011]]
On 26 March 2009, Dicker joined League One side Brighton & Hove Albion on loan for the remainder of the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~1603198,00.html |title=Dicker deal done |first=Paul |last=Camillin |publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. |date=26 March 2009 |access-date=26 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225115453/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~1603198,00.html |archive-date=25 February 2012}} He made nine appearances for the Seagulls, scoring one goal, during this spell. On 25 June, he joined Brighton on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract.{{cite web |url=http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~1702258,00.html |title=Duo sign on dotted line |first=Tim |last=Dudding |publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=25 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628101248/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0%2C%2C10433~1702258%2C00.html |archive-date=28 June 2009}} On 28 April 2011, having helped Brighton secure promotion to the Championship, Dicker was rewarded with a two-year contract extension.{{cite web |url=http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2348467,00.html |title=New deals for midfield duo |first=Paul |last=Camillin |publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. |date=28 April 2011 |access-date=28 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501103024/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2348467,00.html |archive-date=1 May 2011}} He was released when that contract expired at the end of the 2012–13 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22556309 |title=Brighton release Gary Dicker, Marcos Painter & Vicente |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 May 2013 |access-date=17 May 2013}}
=Rochdale=
On 13 September 2013, Dicker joined Rochdale on an initial five-month deal.{{cite web |url=http://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/article/dicker-signs-1051024.aspx |title=Gary Dicker signs |publisher=Rochdale A.F.C. |date=13 September 2013 |access-date=11 October 2017}}
=Crawley Town (loan)=
On 23 January 2014, Dicker joined Crawley Town for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.{{cite web |title=Reds sign Dicker |url=http://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/article/gary-dicker-1311360.aspx |publisher=Crawley Town F.C. |date=23 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127053807/http://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/article/gary-dicker-1311360.aspx |archive-date=27 January 2014}}
=Carlisle United=
On 27 June 2014, Dicker signed a two-year deal with League Two side Carlisle United.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28055059 |title=Carlisle United: Gary Dicker and Billy Paynter join Cumbrians |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 June 2014 |access-date=3 July 2014}}
=Kilmarnock=
On 1 February 2016, Dicker moved to Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock, signing an eighteen-month contract.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35428667 |title=Kilmarnock sign up Gary Dicker & Lee Hodson |first=John |last=Barnes |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 February 2016 |access-date=9 February 2016}} He made his debut in a Scottish Cup tie away to Rangers five days later.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35432980 |title=Rangers 0–0 Kilmarnock |first=Clive |last=Lindsay |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 February 2016 |access-date=9 February 2016}} In early February 2021, Dicker was asked to help take temporary charge of the Kilmarnock first team alongside James Fowler and Andy Millen following the departure of Alex Dyer.{{cite news |title=Fowler not seeking Kilmarnock job |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55891831 |access-date=2 February 2021}} He left Kilmarnock at the end of the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web|url=https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/news/squad-update-following-2020-21-season/|title=Squad update following 2020/21 season|date=25 May 2021}}
=Return to Brighton=
Dicker returned to Brighton & Hove Albion on 2 July 2021, signing a deal to become a coach for the U23s whilst being eligible to play as one of three over-age outfield players in the Premier League 2.{{cite web |title=Gary Dicker returns to Albion|url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2182947/gary-dicker-returns-to-albion/|date=2 July 2021|publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. |access-date=31 August 2021}} He made his first appearance since signing on 14 September, starting in the away trip at Walsall in the group stage of the EFL Trophy. He was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Emmanuel Osadebe in the 1–0 loss.{{cite web|url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2021/september/match-report-walsall-1-0-brighton--hove-albion/ |publisher=Walsall FC|title=Match Report: Walsall 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion – News – Walsall FC |date=14 September 2021|access-date=14 September 2021}} On 25 January 2022, Dicker announced his retirement from playing professional football.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/former-kilmarnock-captain-gary-dicker-26045401|publisher=Daily Record|title=Former Kilmarnock captain Gary Dicker retires from football at 35 – Daily Record|date=25 January 2022|access-date=31 January 2022}}
Coaching career
On 31 January 2022, six days after he announced his retirement from playing, Dicker became a coach for Brighton & Hove Albion U18s, working alongside James Baxter.{{cite web|url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2463943/dicker-takes-on-under-18-role|publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|title=Dicker takes on under-18 role|date=31 January 2022|access-date=31 January 2022 |quote=We're excited to see him develop as a coach with the under-18s, working jointly with James Baxter.}} In September 2022, he became assistant to Albion U21s head coach Shannon Ruth.{{cite web |url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2800717/work-permits-granted-and-coaching-appointments-confirmed |title=Work permits granted and coaching appointments confirmed |first=Paul |last=Camillin |publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. |date=23 September 2022 |access-date=11 December 2022 |quote=Following Crofts' appointment, Shannon Ruth will step up to become under-21 head coach, with Gary Dicker also moving up from the under-18s as Shannon's assistant.}}
On 14 November 2024, Dicker was appointed as head coach for Crown Legacy FC in MLS Next Pro.{{cite web |title=Crown Legacy FC Appoints Gary Dicker as Club's Next Head Coach |url=https://www.charlottefootballclub.com/clfc/news/crown-legacy-fc-appoints-gary-dicker-as-clubs-next-head-coach |website=CharlotteFootballClub.com |publisher=Charlotte FC |access-date=14 November 2024}}
Career statistics
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Crown Legacy FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dicker, Gary}}
Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city)
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:University College Dublin A.F.C. players
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Stockport County F.C. players
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players
Category:Crawley Town F.C. players
Category:Carlisle United F.C. players
Category:Kilmarnock F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Irish association football coaches
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. non-playing staff
Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen
Category:Charlotte FC non-playing staff
Category:Irish expatriate association football managers