Former City player Don Dykes has sadly passed away in Lincoln County Hospital.
Born in Ashby by Partney Donald William Dykes had played for British Crop Driers and Metheringham and had attracted the attention of Aston Villa before joining the Imps in August 1947 and playing for Colts side eventually signing as a professional prior to the start of the 1949/50 season.He made his first team debut at right half in a 1-0 victory over York City in August 1949 but although according to NHB writing in the Echo after the game he showed promise and “found his feet a little more in the second half it was obvious that the occasion was too big for him.”
After playing back in the reserves he returned to the first team over the Christmas/New Year period and this time left NHB in no doubt as to his talent as he wrote: “Dykes' form is really promising at inside forward and he should make great progress.. he can crack in a beautifully timed shot which should bring him goals if he perseveres. In view of the difficulty of finding first class inside forwards these days the Imps would do well to retain Dykes in the line.” He eventually tallied eight appearances during the season.
As with all of his generation though National Service interrupted his career and service in the RAF meant he only appeared nine times over the next three seasons with four of those appearances coming in the 1951/52 Division 3 North title winning side, all at right back to illustrate his versatility.
Once his national Service was over he remained a regular in the reserves but found first team opportunities restricted to just ten appearances in 1953/54, eighteen the following season when he scored three times and just nine games the following two seasons.
The 1957/58 campaign was to prove his most successful first team season as he played in 23 League games usually in either full back position including all six wins at the end of the season that saw the side somehow stave off relegation and he ended his City career with a further 18 League appearances and one goal (a 35-yard drive in a 4-4 draw with Grimsby) in the 1958/59 season before being released and moving onto to Boston United.
In all he appeared in 95 Football League games for City scoring four times with six FA Cup appearances and three in the Lincolnshire Cup.
He later played cricket and golf and was head green keeper at Carholme Golf Club until retirement. Our thoughts are with his family.
Donald William Dykes
08/07/1930 – 25/10/2016
Sources: The Lincolnite, Lincolnshire Echo, Who’s Who of Lincoln City, www.enfa.co.uk
