Jason Dozzell

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jason Dozzell

| fullname = Jason Irvin Winans Dozzell{{Cite book | first=Dean | last= Hayes| title = The Who's Who of Ipswich Town | year= 2006| isbn=1-85983-515-5 | publisher = Breedon Books | pages=52–53}}

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|12|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ipswich, England

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.canveyfc.com/2002/squad.htm|title=Canvey Island Football Club First XI|publisher=Canvey Island F.C.|accessdate=6 February 2023}}

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs1 = Langham Lions

| youthclubs2 = Ipswich Town

| years1 = 1983–1993

| years2 = 1993–1997

| years3 = 1997

| years4 = 1997–1998

| years5 = 1998–2002

| years6 = 2002

| years7 = 2002

| clubs1 = Ipswich Town

| clubs2 = Tottenham Hotspur

| clubs3 = → Ipswich Town (loan)

| clubs4 = Northampton Town

| clubs5 = Colchester United

| clubs6 = Canvey Island

| clubs7 = Grays Athletic

| caps1 = 340

| caps2 = 84

| caps3 = 8

| caps4 = 22

| caps5 = 91

| caps6 = 4

| caps7 = 1

| goals1 = 53

| goals2 = 13

| goals3 = 1

| goals4 = 4

| goals5 = 9

| goals6 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| totalcaps = 550

| totalgoals = 80

| manageryears1 = 2003–2006

| manageryears2 = 2006–2007

| managerclubs1 = Ipswich Wanderers

| managerclubs2 = Leiston

| nationalyears1 = 1984 | nationalteam1 = England U17 | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 1984 | nationalteam2 = England Youth | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 1986–1989

| nationalteam3 = England U21

| nationalcaps3 = 9

| nationalgoals3 = 0

}}

Jason Irvin Winans Dozzell (born 9 December 1967) is an English football manager and former professional footballer.

As a player, he was a midfielder who notably played in the Premier League for Ipswich Town and Tottenham Hotspur. He also played in the Football League for Northampton Town and Colchester United before finishing his career with non-league sides Canvey Island and Grays Athletic. He was capped nine times at England U21 level. Dozzell holds the record for being the youngest goalscorer in England's top division after scoring for Ipswich Town against Coventry City in a First Division match on 4 February 1984 at the age of 16 years and 57 days{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/football/features/newsid_2609000/2609487.stm | work=BBC News | title=The Premiership's youngest guns | date=27 December 2002}} (the youngest goalscorer since the formation of the Premier League is Everton's James Vaughan, aged 16 years 270 days).{{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/photo_galleries/photos_of_the_day/4432217.stm |title=Youngest Premiership goalscorers |work=BBC Sport |date=11 April 2005 |access-date=3 December 2011}} His son Andre also scored on his Ipswich debut aged 16.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/16/sheffield-wednesday-ipswich-town-championship-match-report|title = Debutant Andre Dozzell grabs Ipswich a point at Sheffield Wednesday| website=TheGuardian.com |date = 16 April 2016}}

Following retirement, he went on to manage several non-League football clubs, both in the Eastern Counties Football League — Ipswich Wanderers and Leiston.

Early life

Born in Ipswich, Suffolk, in 1967, Dozzell attended the local Chantry High School.{{Cite web | url = http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ex_town_star_on_drink_drive_charge_1_88127 | title = Ex-Town star on drink-drive charge | work = East Anglian Daily Times | access-date = 4 February 2013 | date = 26 December 2007 | archive-date = 4 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091954/http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ex_town_star_on_drink_drive_charge_1_88127 | url-status = dead }} Dozzell is of American descent through his father, who left the family and returned to America, only seeing Dozzell again when he turned 21.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/there-s-a-new-dozzell-in-town-and-jason-s-2090776|title=There's a new Dozzell in Town – and Jason's determined to make life easier for son Andre|first=Stuart|last=Watson|date=18 June 2013|website=East Anglian Daily Times}}

Playing career

=Ipswich Town=

Playing football for the Langham Lions in the Colchester Youth League,{{Cite web | url = http://www.thurrockgazette.co.uk/archive/1998/10/14/Essex+Archive/5538602.Soccer__Dozzell_signs_for_U_s___at_last/ | work = Thurrock Gazette | date = 14 October 1998 | access-date = 4 February 2013| title = Soccer: Dozzell signs for U's...at last}} Dozzell was noted as a "prolific schoolboy scorer", and was signed on schoolboy terms for Ipswich Town by Bobby Robson despite interest from West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.{{Cite web | url = http://www.echo-news.co.uk/archive/2001/10/12/Essex+Archive/5480942.Soccer__Dozzell_s_final_curtain___/| title = Soccer: Dozzell's final curtain... |work = Liverpool Echo | first=Francis |last=Ponder|date = 12 October 2001|access-date=7 December 2011}} Selected for the senior squad by manager Bobby Ferguson, Dozzell made his debut for Ipswich Town in February 1984, coming on as a substitute against Coventry City. Ipswich won the match 3–1; Dozzell scored late in the second half, becoming the youngest player, at 16 years and 57 days, to score in the old English Football League First Division.{{cite news|url=http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/teenage_star_set_to_shine_1_117250|title=Teenage star set to shine|date=24 October 2007|work=Evening Star|access-date=4 February 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035212/http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/teenage_star_set_to_shine_1_117250|url-status=dead}} He went on to make four further appearances in the 1983–84 season.{{Cite web | url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/players/profile.phtml?fullname=Jason+Dozzell | title = Jason Dozzell | publisher = Pride of Anglia | access-date = 8 October 2008}} The following season Dozzell made twenty appearances, five of them from the bench, and scored four goals. In the 1985–86 season he became a regular starter for Ipswich, scoring five goals in 51 games, although the club were relegated to the Football League Second Division. His 1986–87 season saw him play in every game, making 42 league and 11 cup appearances and scoring a single goal. He was also selected for the England under-21 team, for whom he played nine times without scoring.{{Cite web | url = http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/01/AllTime_Caps.htm | archive-url = https://archive.today/20050403221049/http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/01/AllTime_Caps.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 3 April 2005 | title = England Under-21 Caps| publisher =The Football Association | access-date = 7 October 2008}}{{Cite web | url = http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/02/AllTime_Goalscorers.htm | archive-url = https://archive.today/20050406103353/http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/02/AllTime_Goalscorers.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 6 April 2005 | title = England Under-21 Goalscorers| publisher =The Football Association | access-date = 7 October 2008}}

In the 1988–89 season, Dozzell finished as the club's joint top-scorer (with John Wark and Dalian Atkinson), scoring 13 goals from 37 appearances. The following two seasons saw Dozzell as a regular starter for the team, with 18 goals from 88 appearances. His 16 goals in the 1991–92 season helped John Lyall's Ipswich win the league title and secure promotion to the newly formed Premier League.{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/770087.stm | title = Avoiding the drop | work = BBC News | access-date = 9 October 2008| date = 30 May 2000}} He featured regularly the following season, scoring nine goals in 52 games and helping the club stave off relegation in their first season back in the top tier of English football.

=Tottenham Hotspur=

In August 1993, Dozzell was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for £1.9 million;{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/e/everton/2346445.stm | title = Rocket ride to obscurity|date = 21 October 2001 | access-date = 9 October 2008|work = BBC Sport}} in his first season, he made 36 appearances and scored ten goals across all competitions.{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=2159&season_id=125 |title=Jason Dozzell |publisher=soccerbase.com |access-date=29 December 2017}} Dozzell suffered numerous injuries during his time at White Hart Lane, restricting the number of games in which he played. In the 1994–95 season, he managed just eight appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal. He made a total of 99 league and cup appearances and scored 14 goals over his four seasons at the club.{{cite web

|url= https://www.premierleague.com/players/212/Jason-Dozzell/overview

|title= Jason Dozzell Midfielder, Profile & Stats

|publisher=Premier League

|access-date=22 January 2025

|df=dmy

}} Dozzell made a brief return to Portman Road in 1997, on loan for a month, and made ten appearances before leaving.

=Northampton Town=

He signed for Northampton Town in 1997. A season with The Cobblers saw him score four goals from 26 appearances and help the club to the play-off final at Wembley Stadium. This was followed by a move to newly promoted Colchester United, initially on a monthly contract, where Dozzell made more than 100 appearances and scored 11 goals over three seasons.

=Non-League=

Dozzell retired from professional football in 2001 as a result of persistent injuries, in particular an ongoing toe problem.{{Cite web | url = http://www.thurrockgazette.co.uk/archive/2001/09/18/Essex+Archive/5482648.Soccer__Jason_has_to_call_it_a_day/| title = Jason has to call it a day|work = Thurrock Gazette|access-date = 4 February 2013| date = 21 September 2001}} However, he continued playing with non-league clubs; a brief spell with Canvey Island reunited him with former Colchester and Ipswich player Neil Gregory. Canvey Island released him and he moved on to an even shorter stay with Grays Athletic, who signed him alongside Carl Leaburn. This was followed by a move back to Ipswich and into management.

Managerial career

Dozzell took his first step into management with Eastern Counties Football League club Ipswich Wanderers in 2003. In his role as player-manager, he moved to play in defence and secured an eighth-place finish in the league during his first season with the club. The following season, he led them to the league title and promotion to the Eastern Counties League Premier Division. The 2005–06 season saw Dozzell lead the newly promoted club to seventh in the league,{{Cite web | url = http://www.ipswichwanderersfc.co.uk/clubHistory.htm | title = Ipswich Wanderers History|publisher = Ipswich Wanderers F.C. | access-date = 8 October 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070510214939/http://www.ipswichwanderersfc.co.uk/clubHistory.htm |archive-date = 10 May 2007|url-status=dead}} but despite ending the season with a record tally of points, he left the Wanderers, citing off-pitch issues at the club.{{cite news| url = http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/former_town_star_quits_wanderers_1_108166| newspaper = Evening Star| access-date = 9 August 2008| first = Mel| last = Henderson| date = 9 May 2006| title = Former Town star quits Wanderers| archive-date = 24 September 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040630/http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/former_town_star_quits_wanderers_1_108166| url-status = dead}}

Dozzell went on to manage Leiston,{{cite news|url=http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/dozzell_hoping_to_take_management_step_1_139114|title=Dozzell hoping to take management step|date=7 April 2007|newspaper=Evening Star|access-date=4 February 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040729/http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/dozzell_hoping_to_take_management_step_1_139114|url-status=dead}} but he left in November 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=46315 |title=Club are at the crossroads |access-date=8 October 2008 |date=16 November 2007 |publisher=Non League Today |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616151806/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=46315 |archive-date=16 June 2012}}

Personal life

He is the father of professional footballer Andre Dozzell. He has supported local charities, including acting as a patron for "Operation Santa Claus", run in conjunction with radio station SGR-FM.{{Cite web |title = Old Boys in Action| url = http://www.twtd.co.uk/news.php?storyid=11260| publisher = TWTD | date = 12 June 2007 | access-date = 9 October 2008}} He played for a "Town Legends" side against a Soccer AM team in 2005 to raise money for the Academy,{{Cite web|url=http://www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10272~651784,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217004232/http://www.itfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10272~651784%2C00.html |archive-date=17 February 2012 |publisher=Ipswich Town |access-date=4 February 2013 |date=21 April 2005 |title=Town legends face Soccer AM X1 |url-status=dead }} where his son, Andre, was in the under-10s team.{{cite news | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article4837264.ece | access-date = 9 October 2008| date = 28 September 2008| title = Caught in Time: Field day for Tractor Boys | work = The Times|first=Derek |last=Clements | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In 2007, he was found guilty of driving with excess alcohol and was banned for three years.{{Cite web| url = http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/jason_dozzell_banned_from_driving_1_199830| title = Jason Dozzell banned from driving| access-date = 4 February 2013| date = 14 January 2008| first = Richard| last = Smith| work = East Anglian Daily Times| archive-date = 4 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055200/http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/jason_dozzell_banned_from_driving_1_199830| url-status = dead}}

Honours

Ipswich Town{{cite web|url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerTheChampionship.html |title=Tier Two (Championship) Honours |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk}}

Football League Second Division Winner (1): 1991–92

Individual

Ipswich Town Hall of Fame: Inducted 2015{{Cite web|url=http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/itfc-hall-of-fame-2323984.aspx |title=Trio latest to join Hall of Fame |first=Steve |last=Pearce |date=9 March 2015 |access-date=8 August 2016 |publisher=Ipswich Town F.C. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820204915/http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/itfc-hall-of-fame-2323984.aspx |archive-date=20 August 2016 }}