Most of you probably wont have heard of the name, Unless of course you support Hull or Scunthorpe, Or are the most ardent of football geeks. But over the last 10 years Andy Dawson has been the first name on the teamsheet throughtout Hull City's rise through the football league. Rareley the headline maker Andy's consistent, strong and dogged displays have earnt the left back legendary status amongs Tigers fans.
Signed by Peter Taylor on a free transfer from local rivals Scunthorpe fans could, Initially be forgiven for thinking Dawson's time at city would be largely unspectacular. In fact I imagine very few would have thought we'd be talking about him 10 years on. Dawson came to city when they were the proverbial 'sleeping giants' in Division 3, Taylor was building his team for success on the pitch, Adam Pearson building for success off it. Andy Dawson was to play a major part in All of the resulting achievments.
For 10 years Dawson has been a rock as part of a team which has changed around him. In that time players have donned the tiger stripes who have made the fans uncomfortable when on the ball, Junior Lewis, Ibrahima Sonko, Peter Gulacsi etc. But the fans faith in 'Daws' has been unwaiverin. It was clear to see that Andy was more than capable at playing in Division 3, And when City won promotion to league 1 Dawson again stepped up, with more outstanding defending. Then another promotion this time to the Championship, Now we were playing with the Big Boys, City no longer had the bigger budget, The best stadium or the better players, We were going to be up against it. But again Andy stepped up with more effortless defensive displays. A few seasons of fighting relegation were followed by possibly the most amazing thing to happen to City to date, Promotion, To the Premier League, With Dawson playing a major part in the promotion season. Surely though, The veteran Left back couldn't step up once more to face the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney, and Torres. But yet again he silenced the doubters,To become one of a select few of players to have played for their club in all 4 divisions. And became an essential part of the Tigers team for their 2 seasons in the top flight.
But don't go thinking Andy's talents end at defending, He has (to date) scored 8 times for city, Most of which from sublime free kicks, He can cross (A rareity amongst modern full backs), His determination to never lose an individual battle really shines through on the pitch, and often leads to the arguably 'more talented' players failing to achieve, Just ask Theo Walcott, In the Tigers first season in the Premier League The young england winger barely got out of Andy's pocket all game.
I think one of the most telling tributes to Andy's performances is the lack of any real challengers for his position, Each of the 7 managers he's played under has fully trusted his abilities, and any challengers to his position didn't last long, Damien Delaney had a few cracks, but his delivery was nowhere near the standard of Andy's, Who could forget (Or even remember Roland Edge) Alan Rogers stepped in when 'Daws' suffered an injury in 2007. Kevin Kilbane got pretty close and Stephen Mouyakolo might even have tried, But No one has got close to moving Andy Dawson from the left back slot.
Daws has played behind many players at city, Eliott, Ellison,Fagan, Hughes, Halmosi, Geovanni, Stewart the list goes on, He's provided the crosses for Allsopp, Burgess, Parkin, Duffy, Campbell, Windass, King, Cousin, Manucho and Fryatt. He's partnered the likes of Delaney, Cort, Turner, Brown, Hobbs and Chester. And survived 7 different managers, The success of Taylor, The short lived disaster of Phil Parkinson, the ups and downs of Phil Brown, Ian Dowie, The needed clearout by Nigel Pearson, He's played under his friend and teammate Nick Barmby and currently Steve Bruce.
Windass is the local goalscoring hero, Ash was a hard tackling fans favourite, But Daws, well, 10 years on He's still here, and still Playing to the highest standard.
Andy Dawson, Thank You - From A city fan.
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