Jimmy Dickinson

James William 'Jimmy' Dickinson (25 April 1925 – 8 November 1982 in Alton, Hampshire) was an English football player.

Dickinson holds the record for number of league appearances for Portsmouth F.C. (764). Only Swindon Town's John Trollope (770) has made more appearances for a single club.

Signed for Portsmouth F.C. as a trainee and made his debut in 1946 against Blackburn Rovers F.C. Settling into the side quickly at either wing-half or left-half, he was part of the team that won successive league championships in 1948/49 and 1949/50. His performances earned him a call-up to the England national football team. He went on to win 48 caps for England, making him Portsmouth's most capped English player of all time. During his record 845 club appearances for Pompey and his 48 England caps he was never once booked or sent off, earning him the nickname Gentleman Jim.

Awarded the MBE in 1964, he played his last match for Pompey a year later, helping Pompey to a 1-all end-of-season draw at Northampton that secured safety from relegation. And when he retired from playing, his association with the club continued. He served Pompey as public relations officer and then secretary before accepting the position of manager in May 1977. Relegation from the third division was avoided, but the next year Pompey dropped down a league.

After three heart attacks Jimmy died aged 57 in 1982. The famous 'Pompey Chimes' rang hauntingly around St Mary's Church in Fratton at a packed memorial service for the much-loved legend.

In 1998 he was included on the list of 100 Legends produced to celebrate the centenary of the Football League.

Dickinson's image can be seen in the seating in the Fratton End stand in Fratton Park.

Career statistics

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Portsmouth	1946-47	40	0	2	0	-	-	42	0
	1947-48	42	0	2	0	-	-	44	0
	1948-49	41	0	5	0	-	-	46	0
	1949-50	40	0	5	0	-	-	45	0
	1950-51	41	2	1	0	-	-	42	2
	1951-52	40	0	4	0	-	-	44	0
	1952-53	40	1	2	0	-	-	42	1
	1953-54	40	1	7	0	-	-	47	1
	1954-55	25	0	0	0	-	-	25	0
	1955-56	39	1	2	1	-	-	41	2
	1956-57	42	0	2	0	-	-	44	0
	1957-58	42	2	2	0	-	-	44	2
	1958-59	39	2	4	0	-	-	43	2
	1959-60	42	0	1	0	-	-	43	0
	1960-61	40	0	1	0	4	0	45	0
	1961-62	46	0	1	0	4	0	51	0
	1962-63	42	0	5	0	3	0	50	0
	1963-64	42	0	2	0	1	0	45	0
	1964-65	41	0	2	0	2	0	45	0
Career totals		764	9	50	1	14	0	828	10

Link

• Dickinson's image in Fratton Park