Focus On; Dave Swindlehurst

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Bio:

Swindlehurst came up through the ranks at Crystal Palace, playing youth football in the early 1970s with future West Ham United teammate Alan Devonshire. Starting his senior career in 1973, he played for Palace for eight seasons and scored 81 goals in 278 appearances. Swindlehurst first joined Derby County as a loan player, two months before his transfer was made permanent in April 1980. Derby paid £410,000, a then-record for the club.

West Ham manager John Lyall brought Swindlehurst to Upton Park for £160,000 in March 1983. Injuries hampered his chances of regular first-team football. He played his last game for West Ham on 27 April 1985 against Luton Town and after 71 League and cup games for the east Londoners, he moved on to Sunderland.

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Focus On; Malcolm Shotton

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Bio:

Malcolm Shotton (born 16 February 1957) is an English former professional footballer and manager. He was on the books of Leicester City as an apprentice but failed to make the break into senior football there. He played for Atherstone United and Nuneaton Borough in non-league football before signing for Oxford United in 1980. He formed a notable defensive partnership with Gary Briggs and went on to become captain of the side as they rose from Division Three to Division One.

His finest moment as captain was lifting the Milk Cup at Wembley Stadium in April 1986. At the end of the following season he was transferred to Portsmouth. He later played for Huddersfield Town, Barnsley, Hull City and Ayr United and, after his playing career ended, served as assistant manager at Barnsley.

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Focus On; Kerry Dixon

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Bio:

Kerry Michael Dixon (born 24 July 1961) is an English retired professional footballer. His club career was spent most notably at Chelsea, where he won the Second Division twice. His 193 goals for the club across all competitions made him their third-highest goalscorer of all time.

He was the top goalscorer in his teams’ divisions for three consecutive seasons. In 1982–83, he led in division 3 with Reading. In 1983–84, he topped division 2. In 1984–85, he was the top scorer in division 1 with Chelsea. Dixon scored four goals in eight international appearances for the England national football team. He also represented the nation at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Chelsea challenged for the title in the 1985–86 season. Dixon suffered torn stomach muscles during an FA Cup tie against Liverpool in January. This injury did much to damage their chances. They eventually finished sixth 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.

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