ARTICLE: Do-Dob-Dobo-Dobbo

[ClaretTony]

I always intend doing more of these but the first ex-Claret feature for 18 months

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/do-dob-dobo-dobbo

[brunlea99]

The best free transfer in our history.

[ClaretTony]

The best free transfer in our history.

Without a doubt

[Woodleyclaret]

A great player one of the many we sold on far too cheaply

[Quicknick]

One of our best players ever. When I lived in London, I knew an Everton fan well. He said Dobson was one of their best ever players.

[Jimscho]

When I was at BRGS I played against Clitheroe Grammar who had a Martin Dobson playing for them.One of us made it big time.

[ClaretTony]

When I was at BRGS I played against Clitheroe Grammar who had a Martin Dobson playing for them.One of us made it big time.

I once played cricket for the school at Clitheroe probably in my second year. We finished quickly and had to watch the first eleven. Someone got a big score for them and it was Dobbo.

[clansman]

A magnificent footballer who oozed class! Was a lovely bloke and a Rishtoner too!! His brother was good at sport as well!

[Jimscho]

I once played cricket for the school at Clitheroe probably in my second year. We finished quickly and had to watch the first eleven. Someone got a big score for them and it was Dobbo.

The day I played against Clitheroe Grammar I am sure a future Burnley player was in their team but can’t remember who.It would have been probably 66/67.Any clues who might also have gone to Clitheroe Grammar.

[Royboyclaret]

The day I played against Clitheroe Grammar I am sure a future Burnley player was in their team but can’t remember who.It would have been probably 66/67.Any clues who might also have gone to Clitheroe Grammar.

Fair play, but don't ever remember Accy Grammar ever losing to Clitheroe at that time, Dobbo or not.

[Colburn_Claret]

Having enjoyed this wonderful season, it still can't overshadow 73, and that beautiful team.
And Dobo at the heart of it.

[Royboyclaret]

Having enjoyed this wonderful season, it still can't overshadow 73, and that beautiful team.
And Dobo at the heart of it.

"Dobo at the heart of it".....beautifully put....but still were second best to Accy Grammar cricket team.

[CleggHall]

A very nice tribute CT, your warmth and admiration for Dobbo shines through, a genuine clarets legend.

[!aiboforceN]

Please remove my post above - as I clearly posted it on the wrong thread. Apologies all!

Meant to simply say thanks to CT here for the wonderful Dobbo tribute!

[ClaretTony]

A magnificent footballer who oozed class! Was a lovely bloke and a Rishtoner too!! His brother was good at sport as well!

Very much a Rishtoner and he played cricket for them too. He then played for Southport when he went to Everton.

Classy player and he’s an absolute gent.

[ClaretTony]

The day I played against Clitheroe Grammar I am sure a future Burnley player was in their team but can’t remember who.It would have been probably 66/67.Any clues who might also have gone to Clitheroe Grammar.

One name I can think of is Wilf Wrigley who was centre half on the youth cup winning team.

[warksclaret]

I sense CT that like me he was your favorite player of all time. I saw him make his debut at Wolves as CF.My Arsenal friend saw him at his peak and said he was a Rolls Royce, and just turned on the turbo when he had to. For those that never saw him play, he was not dissimilar in style to Declan Rice, who I saw play at the Turf last year . Rice was outstanding that day, and one of the best footballers Isaw in the flesh last season. He reminded me of the way Dobbo played

[Royboyclaret]

That leg glance for four from Alan Lofthouse that left Dobbo grasping at leg-slip will live long on the memory......Accy Grammar forevor.

[ClaretTony]

I sense CT that like me he was your favorite player of all time. My Arsenal friend saw him at his peak and said he was a Rolls Royce, and just turned on the turbo when he had to. For those that never saw him play, he was not dissimilar in style to Declan Rice, who I saw play at the Turf last year . Rice was outstanding that day, and one of the best footballers Isaw in the flesh last season. He reminded me of the way Dobbo played

I’ve seen so many good players at Burnley and he’s up there.

[Royboyclaret]

I’ve seen so many good players at Burnley and he’s up there.

With the very best.

[Taffy on the wing]

Rolls-Royce of a player.......made everything look easy.

[Royboyclaret]

Rolls-Royce of a player.......made everything look easy.

75 now is Dobbo......Good health to the man.

[ClaretLoup]

One name I can think of is Wilf Wrigley who was centre half on the youth cup winning team.

Wilf was at St Mary’s College in the sixth form and if I remember rightly played in the first team whilst he was still there. He subsequently went on to a long and successful career as a geotechnical engineer.

[ClaretTony]

Wilf was at St Mary’s College in the sixth form and if I remember rightly played in the first team whilst he was still there. He subsequently went on to a long and successful career as a geotechnical engineer.

It was a guess knowing he was from Clitheroe.

[Turftalkers mentor]

Met him quite a few times what a player what a gentleman .
He once told me whilst at Bury he had a young player not sure I think his was Hill . Anyway he was getting tremendous stick from the Bury crowd . Dobbo told me he took the lad to one side and told him never mind the crowd your name is first on the team sheet , no matter how you play for the next dozen games , weight lifted. Man City bought the lad off Bury the following season .
Man management and testament to a real good man .

[Claretnick]

I was sat near the front of the Cricket field stand with my dad and grandad and witnessed the anger directed at Adamson as he walked on the track in front of the stand at half time in that game against Chelsea.

He shouted back that he wasn't to blame, and turned towards the directors box shouting he's to blame. We all knew he meant Lord.
The club never felt the same after Dobbo was sold...

[Guitargeorge]

Barry Kilby also played in the same team as Dobbo at Clitheroe

[Royboyclaret]

Barry Kilby also played in the same team as Dobbo at Clitheroe

And both were sent home as losers that day.

[Wokingclaret]

My fave player and Captain from the 2nd time around.

So sad when he left with Burnley rapidly declining. When Burnley where away, my dad and I would go and watch Bury (we weren't the only one's and what a team he made their.

Always wanted him as the next Burnley manager, but had to put up with Benson and the shockers that followed. The end to that came was when we appointed his assistant Casper, couldn't believe it. Years later the correct decision was made, we got Stan and his back room team team from Bury, not just Sam Ellis (imagine that).

Dobbo, fantastic player and Captain, wonderful memories.

[giveusaB]

A couple of goals here from Dobbo v Chelsea in the fa cup 1970 (picture quality not great)

https://youtu.be/CZhufBUywg8

[bfcjg]

Still one of my all time favourite Claret.,what a player.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Fantastic player and probably the most stylish I have ever seen. The man oozed class. I remember him playing for England when Joe Mercer was in temporary charge, with a midfield of Martin Dobson, Trevor Brooking and Martin Peters; I thought it was the classiest midfield England ever had. I used to stand quite close to the front of the Longside and even once heard a referee (Jack ???) compliment Dobbo with a 'good tackle Martin'.

What a player.

[Royboyclaret]

That leg glance for four from Alan Lofthouse that left Dobbo grasping at leg-slip will live long on the memory......Accy Grammar forevor.

Just as an afterthought, it might be of interest to quoonbeatz, it was Ken Palk who was the batsman at that end who scored the four past Dobbo.

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Great article Tony
Martin Dobson was one of Burnley’s best ever mid field players I have seen
Also a Top guy .

[Jimscho]

And both were sent home as losers that day.

We drew with Clitheroe 1.1 the day I played.I am a year younger than Dobbo but I played for our 1st eleven when I was in lower 6th form.Maybe Barry Kilby played that day as well.There was another future Burnley player I am sure but memory not as good these days

[Jimscho]

One name I can think of is Wilf Wrigley who was centre half on the youth cup winning team.

No it wasnt Wilf Wrigley.One day I will remember.It’s my age

[ClaretTony]

No it wasnt Wilf Wrigley.One day I will remember.It’s my age

Was Just a guess being the only player I could think of from Clitheroe.

[Malvern claret]

A fabulous article about a fabulous player and a fabulous man. I played against him at school as a centre forward but obviously he reached his peak in midfield, but I always thought that if he had continued in the middle of the defence that he could have become the successor to Bobby Moore that England never found. But I do agree that the midfield of Dobbo, Peters and Brooking was the classiest England ever had.
CT wrote remembers watching Dobbo scoring lots of runs against the 1st XI, I remember it as he was smashing my bowling all around the ground. Jimscho asks about others who played for Clitheroe, the ones I can remember are an opening batsman called John Lewis, another excellent footballer, John Waddington who was the fastest bowler around and the best cricketer of the lot, Dereck Parker, a leg spin bowler, hope that might help.
After we left school I was lucky enough to meet Dobbo quite often as he guested for Clitheroe staff cricket team and I guested for BGS staff cricket team. When I started teaching in the area this continued, there was one amazing occasion when we were playing a staff football match against Clitheroe and were staggered when Dobbo (now an international) arrived with their team. He then produced a whistle and announced he was going to referee (no one questioned a single decision), what a privilege!
He never tired of chatting after the game and I remember him asking “How did you lot beat us 7-0 when we were at school?” It was the only time we beat Clitheroe at anything in my time.

Another name that has appeared on this thread is Wilf Wrigley. I have recently returned from a football reunion at Aberystwyth University,Wilf retired from professional football at a very early age and went to Aberystwyth, I had left before he arrived but several of my friends at the reunion spoke very highly of him.

[Spike]

Still my all time favourite ever football player ,not just Burnley players!

[Claretitus]

Great piece that CT, extremely well written. The word legend is thrown around far too easily these days, but Dobbo epitomises it. A true Clarets legend, and a great guy to boot. As stated several times above, also my favourite player. I was gutted when he left for Everton, and delighted when he returned. Got too few England caps as well.

[beeholeclaret]

Great article CT thank you.

Happy memories of my younger days watching Burnley. Must’ve met him dozens of times getting autographs in my scrapbook in the early 1970’s (I’ll have to do another Monday night scrapbook quiz which generally followed players from this era).

I can remember when I was at BGS the PTA organised a sports forum which included Dobbo and Leighton James who were top division one players at the time. He did so much for local sport not only on soccer and cricket pitches but as a general ambassador for sport with his manner and demeanour off the field. Legendary status in the eyes of many football supporters.

[Quicknick]

He's a published children's author, as well.

[IanMcL]

Super article. Thank you.

Dobbo is the player who made the most influence on me, in my days of watching Burnley. Ralph Coates was my big hero but Dobbo came back.

In my head, he never lost a tackle.

I used to song my very young daughter songs and nursery rhymes at bed time. I also taught her D O Dob Dobo Dobbo.

She used to sing D o b Dobbo. Close enough at 2 or 3!.

I remember Sweeper Dobbo pulling his young lad back four about, to get them right for the corners!

[Suratclaret]

What a player! Always seemed to have more time on the ball than most. Such an elegant footballer who is one of my all time favourites.

[Buxtonclaret]

Great read, CT.
His sale to me was what Jimmy Mac had been to my dad. The air turned blue.

Never found it again, but there was a photo of a very young Dobo scoring his "first " goal in a Burnley shirt. Not sure if it was online or, in one of those old Foitball Review things you'd sometimes get in match programs.
It was on Silverlands, Buxton. I was there.
They sent an A/B side up a couple of years running to play pre-season friendlies.

[ClaretTony]

Great read, CT.
His sale to me was what Jimmy Mac had been to my dad. The air turned blue.

Never found it again, but there was a photo of a very young Dobo scoring his "first " goal in a Burnley shirt. Not sure if it was online or, in one of those old Foitball Review things you'd sometimes get in match programs.
It was on Silverlands, Buxton. I was there.
They sent an A/B side up a couple of years running to play pre-season friendlies.

Found it - we played there in 1966 & 1967 and it was the second of them. Burnley won 4-1 with two goals each for Martin Dobson and Len Kinsella. Didn't see either of them but I was there in 2010 for the friendly when we won 3-0. Trialist Paris Cowan-Hall scored twice that night with Wes Fletcher scoring, and I've just about recovered from walking up that road to the ground.

[roperclaret]

Only knew him as Richard’s dad who came to watch us on Sundays! Unfortunately can’t remember him as a player.

[Buxtonclaret]

Found it - we played there in 1966 & 1967 and it was the second of them. Burnley won 4-1 with two goals each for Martin Dobson and Len Kinsella. Didn't see either of them but I was there in 2010 for the friendly when we won 3-0. Trialist Paris Cowan-Hall scored twice that night with Wes Fletcher scoring, and I've just about recovered from walking up that road to the ground.

Brilliant, CT !!
Your Clarets history data & library is astounding!

And yes, remember you saying you went to the 2010 game. ( up that steep hill?)
I'd a beer with Rocky before that game. Ran into him when meeting a few friends, going on with me.
The guy running Buxton then, moaned at me a few weeks later, saying he'd been led to believe it was the 1st team we were sending!

Trawled the net for that Dobo photo scoring ( a header) but, not found it.

[claretonthecoast1882]

A good read there is always something new to learn about a player with articles like these on reading them.

Hopefully more are done, don't let an idiotic comment put you off doing them

[Hipper]

Fantastic player and probably the most stylish I have ever seen. The man oozed class. I remember him playing for England when Joe Mercer was in temporary charge, with a midfield of Martin Dobson, Trevor Brooking and Martin Peters; I thought it was the classiest midfield England ever had. I used to stand quite close to the front of the Longside and even once heard a referee (Jack ???) compliment Dobbo with a 'good tackle Martin'.

What a player.

Jack Taylor? A well respected referee in the day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Taylor_(referee)