Macari on Dicksy

Former Hammers manager Lou Macari has told the Stoke Sentinel of his memories of Julian Dicks after reading about his appointment in Slaven’s backroom team.

“I was interested to read about Julian Dicks being promoted to first-team coach at his beloved club West Ham. He was a player there when I was manager some 25 years ago now – and what a player he was.”

“He never quite played a full international for his country in the end, but I can tell you he was better, tougher, stronger and quicker than any full back playing for England in the last five years.”

“I remember one of the first phone calls I got at West Ham was from Terry Venables, who was Tottenham boss at the time, and he wanted to sign Julian.”

“That told me all I needed to know about how good Julian was, before working closely with him, and obviously my answer to Terry was a polite”

“Julian would run through brick walls for you and when he went on one of his barnstorming runs forward the crowd went bonkers.”

“And when he smashed a penalty, he’d very nearly knock the goalkeeper into the back of the net as well.”