Biography
Hull-born defender, and occasional striker, Ian Dobson came through the apprenticeship ranks at Hull City in the mid 1970s after attending Rile High School. He was given his first team debut by manager John Kaye towards the end of 1975/76 season and played occasionally during the following season. In 1977/78 he established himself as a first choice centre back under new boss Bobby Collins. Collins lasted only four months and City were relegated in May 1978, but Dobson retained his first team place in the Third Division under Ken Houghton, albeit that injuries kept him out of the team on two occasions for several weeks. Dobson was again first choice at the start of 1979/80 but when Mike Smith took over the manager’s hot seat in January 1980 Dobson was quickly dropped and jettisoned. Dobson scored his first goal for City in April 1977 during an away game at Plymouth, during a short spell filling in for Jeff hemmerman in the front line. He scored his second goal, the winner, later in that same match. His final goal came in a 2-2 draw at home to Exeter in October 1979.
In June 1980 Dobson signed for Hereford United and in two seasons at Edgar Street he played 49 times in all competitions and scored five goals, despite missing 11 months of football between November 1980 and October 1981. Released by the Bulls in 1982, Dobson headed to Australia where he spent 9 years playing for several clubs in the Melbourne area.
In 1989 he took over as player-manager of Croydon City Arrows, beginning a highly successful 22 year career in club management. Dobson lifted the National Soccer League and Cup double in 1996 with Melbourne Knights, and claimed eight Victoria State League titles with Altona Magic (twice) and Green Gully (six times). Dobson managed Green Gully for ten years over two spells, a club formed in the 1950s by Maltese men settling in Australia, and was later the Director of Coaching. From 1986 Dobson also managed EYMAC, a commercial kitchen design and installation business based in the Ringwood suburb of Melbourne.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 3 October 1957, Hull
Hull City First Game: 10 April 1976, Fulham A (Division Two), 18 years, 190 days old
Hull City Final Game: 14 March 1980, Swindon Town H (Division Three), 22 years, 163 days old
Clubs
Hull City (1975-1980), Hereford United (1980-1982), Croydon City Arrows (1982-1983), Preston Makedonia (1984-1987), Melbourne Croatia (1987-1988), Croydon City Arrows (1989-1991)
Hull City Record
Career: 106 apps, 7 goals
Ian Dobson| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975/76 | 3 (0) | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1976/77 | 7 (3) | 2 | 1 (0) | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1977/78 | 28 (1) | 3 | 1 (0) | 0 | 2 (0) | 0 | - | - | 3 (0) | 0 |
| 1978/79 | 22 (2) | 0 | - | - | 3 (0) | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 1979/80 | 26 (0) | 2 | 2 (0) | 0 | 2 (0) | 0 | - | - | - | - |
Hi Dobbo, it’s John Upson here! Hope you are well. And Karen too of course. It’s interesting reading how life went for you and so pleased you found success in management with GreenGully in particular.
I was over in Sydney to watch Hull FC play a couple of games of Rugby League over there, against NRL opposition.
And I was over in Aus just 8 weeks ago to visit my wife’s sister, we stayed out there for 4weeks, We visited Adelaide, Leongatha which is 31 hrs drive SE of Melbourne.and finally Perth. Sadly didn’t get to see Melbourne itself. But the highlights were definitely Adelaide and Perth which we thought were beautiful Cities and waterfronts. I can see why people want to stay there. So myself and Denise live in Cottingham 6 mile north of Hull.
I still close mates with Tommo,and Martyn Wear theyre living in Willerby and Cottingham. Kelly Howman lives off Wold Rd. And I still see Paul Oberg who now lives in near Oakham in Rutland, He played at City for a while, and also at Scunthorpe Town, and Oakham Town too. He’s been ill lately but is in a better place these days.
So anyway …. glad I found you Dobbo, and so pleased you made a name for yourself out there in Australia.
Take care my old pal, and say hi to Karen for me.
Best Wishrs
Uppo