Kerry Michael Dixon (born 24 July 1961, in Luton) is a retired English professional footballer who played most notably for Chelsea and England.
Early years
A tall and athletic striker who had pace, an impressive heading ability and was effective with both feet, Dixon started out as an apprentice with Tottenham Hotspur but was released before ever playing for the club.
Reading
After spells with Chesham United and Dunstable, he got his first taste of League football with Reading, who signed him for £20,000 in 1980. He scored 51 league goals in 116 appearances for the then Third Division club, including four in a 7-5 defeat at Doncaster Rovers in September 1982.
Chelsea
After his Reading days, Dixon signed with Chelsea in August 1983 by manager John Neal. Chelsea chairman Ken Bates initially hesitated when faced with the £150,000 transfer fee plus a £25,000 clause if Dixon ever played for the England national side, but relented and the deal went ahead. Dixon arrived as part of Neal's radical re-building of the side and was joined in the same summer by Pat Nevin, Nigel Spackman, Joe McLaughlin and Eddie Niedzwiecki.
Dixon's impact at Chelsea was immediate; he scored two goals on his debut against Derby County and added 32 more through the season as the club romped to promotion as Second Division champions. Chelsea clinched promotion with a 5-0 win against Leeds United, in which Dixon scored a hat-trick. He struck up an impressive partnership with fiery Scot and fellow striker David Speedie, despite initial personal problems between the two, and also linked up well with winger Nevin; between them the trio scored almost 200 goals over the next three years. His impact on the First Division the following season was equally impressive, scoring with a memorable volley in the opening match against Arsenal at Highbury in a 1-1 draw. Dixon eventually finished up as joint top scorer (alongside Gary Lineker) with 24 league goals while Chelsea finished 6th in the final table. In the same season, he hit a further eight goals in the League Cup as Chelsea reached the semi-finals, where they surprisingly lost to Sunderland. In his first two seasons at Chelsea he scored a total of 70 goals in just 101 games.
Chelsea challenged for the title in the 1985-86 season but Dixon suffered torn stomach muscles during an FA Cup tie against Liverpool in January, which did much to damage their chances. They eventually finished 6th again, though he did score twice in a 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. The injury also took away much of Dixon's pace and he was never quite the same player again.
Chelsea struggled in the following years after a series of clashes between key players and the management saw the promotion-winning side gradually broken up. Dixon himself was dropped from the side after losing form and was close to joining Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal, though the deal eventually collapsed after Bates' intervention. Chelsea were relegated in 1988, an event which, ironically, rejuvenated his career with the club. He scored 25 league goals as Chelsea returned to the First Division as champions at the first attempt in 1988-89. A year later he scored a further 26, including a final day hat-trick against Millwall, to help Chelsea finish 5th, their highest league position since 1970.
With 193 goals in total to his name, Dixon is Chelsea's second highest goal scorer of all time, behind only Bobby Tambling. He is also 7th in the club's all-time appearances list.
Southampton
Dixon left Chelsea in 1992 and joined Southampton in a £575,000 deal, where he briefly linked up with Speedie again, though not with the same success. During his time at Southhampton he only managed 9 league appearances and 2 goals.
Luton Town
He left Southampton in February 1993 to join Luton Town on a free transfer. The highlight of his time at Luton was reaching the FA Cup semi-finals in 1994, where he faced his old side Chelsea and lost 2-0. He scored 20 goals in 88 appearances for Luton.
Milwall and Watford
In March 1995, Dixon joined Millwall in a £5,000 transfer deal. After 31 appearances and nine goals, he was sold to Watford for £25,000 in the January transfer window of 1996. Dixon appeared in 11 matches for Watford.
Doncaster Rovers
The final league club he played for was Doncaster Rovers during the 1996-97 season. He appeared in 16 matches for the Rovers, scoring three times.
Early years
A tall and athletic striker who had pace, an impressive heading ability and was effective with both feet, Dixon started out as an apprentice with Tottenham Hotspur but was released before ever playing for the club.
Reading
After spells with Chesham United and Dunstable, he got his first taste of League football with Reading, who signed him for £20,000 in 1980. He scored 51 league goals in 116 appearances for the then Third Division club, including four in a 7-5 defeat at Doncaster Rovers in September 1982.
Chelsea
After his Reading days, Dixon signed with Chelsea in August 1983 by manager John Neal. Chelsea chairman Ken Bates initially hesitated when faced with the £150,000 transfer fee plus a £25,000 clause if Dixon ever played for the England national side, but relented and the deal went ahead. Dixon arrived as part of Neal's radical re-building of the side and was joined in the same summer by Pat Nevin, Nigel Spackman, Joe McLaughlin and Eddie Niedzwiecki.
Dixon's impact at Chelsea was immediate; he scored two goals on his debut against Derby County and added 32 more through the season as the club romped to promotion as Second Division champions. Chelsea clinched promotion with a 5-0 win against Leeds United, in which Dixon scored a hat-trick. He struck up an impressive partnership with fiery Scot and fellow striker David Speedie, despite initial personal problems between the two, and also linked up well with winger Nevin; between them the trio scored almost 200 goals over the next three years. His impact on the First Division the following season was equally impressive, scoring with a memorable volley in the opening match against Arsenal at Highbury in a 1-1 draw. Dixon eventually finished up as joint top scorer (alongside Gary Lineker) with 24 league goals while Chelsea finished 6th in the final table. In the same season, he hit a further eight goals in the League Cup as Chelsea reached the semi-finals, where they surprisingly lost to Sunderland. In his first two seasons at Chelsea he scored a total of 70 goals in just 101 games.
Chelsea challenged for the title in the 1985-86 season but Dixon suffered torn stomach muscles during an FA Cup tie against Liverpool in January, which did much to damage their chances. They eventually finished 6th again, though he did score twice in a 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. The injury also took away much of Dixon's pace and he was never quite the same player again.
Chelsea struggled in the following years after a series of clashes between key players and the management saw the promotion-winning side gradually broken up. Dixon himself was dropped from the side after losing form and was close to joining Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal, though the deal eventually collapsed after Bates' intervention. Chelsea were relegated in 1988, an event which, ironically, rejuvenated his career with the club. He scored 25 league goals as Chelsea returned to the First Division as champions at the first attempt in 1988-89. A year later he scored a further 26, including a final day hat-trick against Millwall, to help Chelsea finish 5th, their highest league position since 1970.
With 193 goals in total to his name, Dixon is Chelsea's second highest goal scorer of all time, behind only Bobby Tambling. He is also 7th in the club's all-time appearances list.
Southampton
Dixon left Chelsea in 1992 and joined Southampton in a £575,000 deal, where he briefly linked up with Speedie again, though not with the same success. During his time at Southhampton he only managed 9 league appearances and 2 goals.
Luton Town
He left Southampton in February 1993 to join Luton Town on a free transfer. The highlight of his time at Luton was reaching the FA Cup semi-finals in 1994, where he faced his old side Chelsea and lost 2-0. He scored 20 goals in 88 appearances for Luton.
Milwall and Watford
In March 1995, Dixon joined Millwall in a £5,000 transfer deal. After 31 appearances and nine goals, he was sold to Watford for £25,000 in the January transfer window of 1996. Dixon appeared in 11 matches for Watford.
Doncaster Rovers
The final league club he played for was Doncaster Rovers during the 1996-97 season. He appeared in 16 matches for the Rovers, scoring three times.
