Dickie Cunliffe article

[robf]

I'm going to be including this in the various match preview features but here is a link to a nice feature on Wigan-born Dickie Cunliffe by the Vital Wigan site. It includes some images from his family:

 

http://www.wigan.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=412889

[Aussie Rules]

Rob, it seems like only yesterday

[Phil]

He was a very heavy smoker, and it killed him aged 45.

[Bycarsbill]

I'm old enough and was privileged enough to have seen him play in his pomp days--mum & dad used to take me to Vale Park during the 1953/54 magnificent campaign and Dickie with his little legs sprinting down the left wing was one of my mum's favourite players. Dad's was Basil Hayward, while mine was always Albert Leake

[The French Connection]

I was privileged to play 5 a-side against Dickie Cunliffe for a couple of years at Keele Uni. It was around 1967, I guess. By this time he must have been in his forties, and he was a short powerfully built player, with a fantastic left foot. The power in his shot was incredible. I remember him as being very friendly and competitive, but definitely a sportsman.

[Fosse69]

Did he not play against WBA in the friendly to open the floodlights? I can stiĺl hear the roar from the paddock as he ran down the wing past Don Howe.

[robf]

Pleased to add a footnote to this thread - I have been in touch with Dickie Cunliffe's family and they have kindly scanned in some amazing things (press cuttings, photos etc) from a collection stored in their attic. There's quite a lot so there will be several exclusive articles coming up with clippings from the Vale career of Dickie Cunliffe.

[Fosse69]

Great news about Tricky Dickie

[EDDTHEBALL]

Dickie was our next door neighbour at machin st in tunstall all those years ago

[robf]

I can say there is some fascinating stuff including a hand-written letter and a programme from his youth team days.

[robf]

First article should be online tomorrow (Thursday).

[robf]

First article is online here - http://www.onevalefan.co.uk/site/2015/09/clipping-heroes-14-dickie-cunliffe-part-one/

 

I have enough material for at least one more, possibly two...

 

p.s. If I have wrong identified anyone in the photos please let me know. I find it difficult to tell players like Stan Turner and Albert Mullard apart so people may be wrongly credited.

[Fosse69]

Looks like Albert, Stan was a more sturdy chap.

I think Dickies goal was against Scunthorpe, they had different coloured sleeves and Dickie scored against them according to Jeff Kent`s bible. Date would then be Monday 16 March 1953. So a possible since Vale wore black collars in later seasons according to the historical site.