Dave Hickson
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Hickson | ||
| Date of birth | 30 October 1929 | ||
| Place of birth | Salford, England | ||
| Date of death | 8 July 2013 (aged 83) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ellesmere Port Town | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1948–1955 | Everton | 139 | (63) |
| 1955 | Aston Villa | 12 | (1) |
| 1955–1957 | Huddersfield Town | 54 | (28) |
| 1957–1959 | Everton | 86 | (32) |
| 1959–1961 | Liverpool | 60 | (37) |
| 1961 | Cambridge City | ? | (?) |
| 1961–1962 | Bury | 8 | (0) |
| 1962–1963 | Tranmere Rovers | 45 | (21) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1963–1964 | Ballymena United | ||
| 1967 | Ballymena United | ||
| 1968 | Bangor | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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David "Dave" Hickson (30 October 1929 – 8 July 2013) was an English professional footballer who played for Everton, Aston Villa, Huddersfield Town, Liverpool, Cambridge City, Bury & Tranmere Rovers
Hickson started his football career as a teenager with non-league Ellesmere Port Town, where his robust style and keen eye for goal were noticed by the Everton manager Cliff Britton. He signed for the Toffees in 1948, but serving his stint of National Service delayed his debut for another three years. During this period he played for the Cheshire Army Cadets team, and it was with them that he was coached by the Everton legend Dixie Dean. It is fairly safe to assume that Dave developed the physical side of his game in this period. Hickson made his debut for Everton in September 1951 against Leeds United, with the Blues in Division Two for only the second season in their history. Hickson was soon a regular fixture in the Everton side.
Perhaps the defining moment in Dave's career came in Everton's 1952–53 FA Cup run. The Blues were still in Division Two, and the cup was to provide some well needed excitement for the Goodison Park faithful. Home wins against Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest put Everton into the fifth round, where they were drawn with Manchester United.
A feverish crowd of 77,920 packed Goodison Park on 14 February 1953 expectant of a thrilling encounter, and they would not be disappointed. United had the better of early exchanges and as expected took the lead just before the half hour. Everton were lifted just minutes later, when Tommy Eglinton nipped in to score an equaliser lifting the crowd and inspiring Everton. Just before half time, Hickson launched himself headlong in amongst flying boots and emerged with a huge gash above one eyebrow. Hickson was led off down the tunnel, with the crowd fully expecting Everton to play the remainder with 10 men, as substitutes were not yet permitted. Hickson had other ideas. He emerged from the tunnel in the second half, greeted by a huge ovation from the crowd, with a row of freshly applied stitches holding the wound together. Minutes later Hickson applied the finish that would end up as the winning goal, and the crowd went wild. Hickson then headed against the post and opened the wound again, and the blood began to pour in torrents, but still he soldiered on, ignoring pleas from both the referee and his captain to leave the field. At the final whistle, his blond hair now red, and his shirt the same colour as the United ones, he left the field to an ovation probably never bettered at Goodison.
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