Starting at Arsenal before being loaned out to Luton and then Brighton, Paul Dickov eventually came to City in 1996. Paul came on as a substitute under Manager Alan Ball before then starting in the next game under Caretaker Manager Asa Hartford. During his first season at City he must (like all of us) wondered what on earth was going on as City installed Steve Coppell as Manager only for him to quit a month later. Then Phil Neal took charge of City until Frank Clark was given the job at the end of December.
It may have been this constant changing of boss that didn't really help in his settling down to the team, starting 46 times in the first two seasons and only scoring 14. His second season at City also saw relegation, the loss of Rosler and Kinkladze but also witnessed the departure of Frank Clark with Joe Royle now taking the helm and a striker by the name of Shaun Goater joining.
In Division Two, Dickov partnered with Shaun Goater in 22 starts he would score ten goals in the League to earn City a play off place. In the Final of the playoff City were 2-0 down as the game was winding down before a Kevin Horlock strike reduced the deficit, and then came 'that' Dickov goal. We took the game to penalties and won as we started to claw our way back to the Premiership. You must also remember that Dickov scored an important equaliser in the Playoff Semi Finals in order for City to even get to the Final in the first place.
Back to back promotions saw that happen and in 2000 we kicked off our first Premiership game for four years. That was to prove to only be a quick visit though as we suffered relegation and the dismissal of Joe Royle in favour of Kevin Keegan.
Under Keegan, Dickov didn't get a single start and only appeared as substitute seven times before being offloaded to Leicester at the end of January 2002. From Leicester he went to Blackburn and after 51 goals in 139 appearences combined with those two teams City, under the guidence of Stuart Pearce saw enough of him to think he could boost City once more.
In football they do say that you should never return. It worked for Shaun Wright Phillips, not so much for Dickov who in two seasons only had a handful of games with not a single goal. as far as most City fans go though I doubt his second spell at the club will damage his legend status.
The truth is that if not for that goal in the Playoff Final he may not have enjoyed any cult status at City. In the cold light of day his goal return was not prolific, 41 goals in 122 starts (and 58 subs). In fact Dickov himself didn't promote himself as a striker the style of which City currently boasts. He always gave everything in a game, he upset defenders and was combative earning him the nickname from Royle as 'The Wasp'. He may even have fallen by the wayside and become a footnote in City history but because of the drama of that day, the emotion and the euphoria of Dickov's strike and the importance of it financially then he will and should be a City legend.
Happy Birthday Paul
Written By: PA Cityboy (www.facebook.com/pacityboy)
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