John Dickinson

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
10-04-1934
N/A
14-04-1950
Warrington
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
18-04-1951 v Huddersfield
Swinton
1957- Leigh
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1950-1957
160 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
42
2
0
130

Biography of John Dickinson



HERITAGE NO : 698
John Dickinson, universally known to everyone as Todder signed for the Saints after captaining the successful Parr High School team and representing Lancashire Schoolboys. Before he was 18 Todder had played in virtually all the back divisions for the First Team, but stand-off was probably his best position. He served in the RAF during his National Service and a fair assessment of his all-round ability at such a young age could be found in the St. Helens Newspaper in September 1951, after he had impressed against Barrow and their star stand-off Willie Horne in particular: “Against a man who has captained England in Test Match football, Dickinson showed coolness, courage and resource, playing well to his centres, tackling well in defence and above all backing up at every opportunity for the odd chance.”

Todder had made his debut in a 9-14 loss to Huddersfield at Knowsley Road on 18th April 1951, when he partnered Jimmy Honey in the halves. His greatest moment in the red and white jersey came on 7th May 1953, when he was scrum half during Saints’ Championship final victory over Halifax at a packed Maine Road ground in Manchester. Peter Metcalfe, his stand-off, scored a try and kicked 3 goals in the 24-14 triumph. He also enjoyed success against visiting international touring teams. Todder scored a try in the 26-8 victory over the Australians on 27th September 1952, when he was on the right wing and was on the scoresheet once again during their next visit to Knowsley Road, on 24th November 1956, when the Saints thrashed the Kangaroos 44-2. Todder was also at scrum half when the Saints beat the visiting Kiwis 16-8 on 26th October 1955 and was also a beaten finalist in the Lancashire Cup after Oldham beat the Saints 3-10 in 1956.

Todder made a total of 160 appearances for his home-town team, scoring 42 tries. Reliable and rugged, Todder played for England against France in 1956, a year which he will never forget for the wrong reasons. A knee injury ruled him out of the Challenge Cup final at Wembley picked up seven days before at Thrum Hall, ironically against the future opponents, Halifax, in the Championship semi-final. Bill Finnan stepped into the stand-off role at Wembley.

Todder moved on to Leigh, initially, [Heritage Number 674] before joining his former Saints coach Jim Sullivan at Rochdale Hornets. A tremendously popular character, Todder later became a successful coach with the Pilkington Recreation amateur team. He succeeded another former Saints stand-off, Peter Metcalfe, to the position and was instrumental in triggering off a boom era for the famous old club at City Road. A member of the Saints Players Association, he remained an affable and knowledgeable figure amongst both Saints and Recs fans and was delighted to pick up his Player Heritage Certificate during an Open Day at the Saints’ stadium in 2019!

Sadly, John passed away in August 2021 at the age of 87 but will remain forever in the hearts of those who saw him play or knew him well.


SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1950~510 0 0 2
1951~523 2 0 23
1952~53 12 0 0 29
1953~546 0 0 29
1954~556 0 0 18
1955~566 0 0 21
1956~579 0 0 36
1957~58 0 0 0 2
TOTALS:42 2 0 160
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1950~51 1001
1951~520002
1952~53 1002
1953~541001
1954~551001
1956~570001
TOTALS:4008

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
18th Apr 1951 1
L
 6 Huddersfield L H 9 14 VIEW
25th Apr 1951 2
L
 6 Leigh L A 7 10 VIEW
30th Apr 1951 --
W
 6 Players Union * Fr H 45 38 1 VIEW
1st Sep 1951 3
L
 7 Belle Vue Rangers LC1(1) H 4 8 VIEW
22nd Sep 1951 4
W
 6 Barrow L H 16 3 1 1 VIEW
29th Sep 1951 5
W
 7 Warrington L A 19 13 1 1 VIEW
6th Oct 1951 6
L
 7 Hull L H 10 15 VIEW
13th Oct 1951 7
W
 7 Halifax L A 20 9 VIEW
27th Oct 1951 8
L
 7 Workington Town L A 8 11 VIEW
3rd Nov 1951 9
W
 7 Rochdale Hornets L H 5 2 VIEW
24th Nov 1951 10
L
 7 Dewsbury L A 2 6 VIEW
1st Dec 1951 11
W
 7 Widnes L H 14 3 VIEW
15th Dec 1951 12
L
 7 Salford L H 6 14 VIEW
22nd Dec 1951 13
L
 7 Salford L A 0 5 VIEW
1st Jan 1952 14
W
 6 Leigh L H 9 0 1 VIEW
5th Jan 1952 15
L
 6 Belle Vue Rangers L H 5 6 VIEW
12th Jan 1952 16
W
 6 Batley L H 22 2 VIEW
19th Jan 1952 17
L
 6 Whitehaven L A 5 7 VIEW
2nd Feb 1952 18
L
 6 Whitehaven L H 6 7 VIEW
16th Feb 1952 19
W
 4 Belle Vue Rangers CC1(2) A 9 4 VIEW
23rd Feb 1952 20
W
 3 Huddersfield L H 37 13 VIEW
1st Mar 1952 21
W
 1 Liverpool City L A 31 6 VIEW
22nd Mar 1952 22
L
 4 Batley L A 5 16 VIEW
29th Mar 1952 23
L
 6 Oldham L H 6 10 VIEW
14th Apr 1952 24
L
 3 Huddersfield L A 15 34 VIEW
26th Apr 1952 25
L
 6 Barrow L A 8 12 VIEW
30th Apr 1952 --
L
 6 Toulouse* Fr Tour A 5 31 VIEW
4th May 1952 --
W
 6 French XIII* Fr Tour F 27 24 VIEW
18th Aug 1952 --
L
 6 Barrow * Fr Ward Cup A 18 32 VIEW
10th Sep 1952 26
W
 2 Oldham L H 6 2 VIEW
13th Sep 1952 27
L
 2 Workington Town L H 9 15 VIEW
20th Sep 1952 28
W
 2 Keighley L A 27 7 VIEW
23rd Sep 1952 29
W
 2 Rochdale Hornets LC2 H 31 7 VIEW
27th Sep 1952 30
W
 2 Australia Tour H 26 8 1 VIEW
4th Oct 1952 31
W
 2 Castleford L H 18 17 1 VIEW
14th Oct 1952 32
W
 2 Warrington LCSF A 17 10 1 VIEW
1st Nov 1952 33
W
 2 Swinton L A 14 7 1 VIEW
8th Nov 1952 34
W
 7 Barrow L A 14 7 VIEW
6th Dec 1952 35
W
 7 Workington Town L A 22 5 VIEW
13th Dec 1952 36
W
 7 Barrow L H 26 9 VIEW
20th Dec 1952 37
W
 7 Widnes L A 7 2 VIEW
25th Dec 1952 38
W
 7 Leigh L A 22 2 VIEW
26th Dec 1952 39
W
 7 Wigan L H 5 0 VIEW
27th Dec 1952 40
W
 7 Wakefield Trinity L A 20 11 2 VIEW
1st Jan 1953 41
D
 7 Leigh L H 9 9 VIEW
3rd Jan 1953 42
W
 7 Rochdale Hornets L H 37 5 VIEW
17th Jan 1953 43
W
 7 Bramley L H 52 14 VIEW
31st Jan 1953 44
W
 6 Castleford L A 8 0 1 VIEW
7th Mar 1953 45
W
 7 Wakefield Trinity L H 69 17 1 VIEW
18th Mar 1953 46
W
 2 Whitehaven L A 17 15 1 VIEW
21st Mar 1953 47
W
 4 Whitehaven L H 26 10 1 VIEW
3rd Apr 1953 48
W
 7 Wigan L A 16 5 VIEW
6th Apr 1953 49
D
 5 Huddersfield L A 10 10 VIEW
11th Apr 1953 50
W
 3 Belle Vue Rangers L H 38 9 VIEW
13th Apr 1953 51
W
 3 Keighley L H 29 12 1 VIEW
18th Apr 1953 52
W
 3 Oldham L A 14 13 VIEW
2nd May 1953 53
W
 7 Huddersfield ChSF H 46 0 1 VIEW
7th May 1953 54
W
 7 Halifax ChF N 24 14 VIEW
16th May 1953 --
W
 7 Workington / Whitehaven* Fr Benefit A 53 26 1 VIEW
8th Aug 1953 --
W
 7 Barrow* Fr Ward Cup H 29 20 1 VIEW
15th Aug 1953 55
W
 7 Liverpool City L A 46 0 1 VIEW
22nd Aug 1953 56
D
 7 Widnes L A 11 11 VIEW
26th Aug 1953 57
W
 7 Barrow L H 23 10 1 VIEW
5th Sep 1953 58
L
 7 Barrow LC1(1) A 13 14 VIEW
31st Oct 1953 59
W
 5 Workington Town L H 20 5 VIEW
7th Nov 1953 60
W
 5 Oldham L A 5 3 VIEW
14th Nov 1953 61
W
 7 Swinton L H 2 0 VIEW
28th Nov 1953 62
W
 7 Whitehaven L A 12 4 VIEW
19th Dec 1953 63
W
 4 Salford L A 11 7 VIEW
25th Dec 1953 64
W
 4 Leigh L H 11 9 VIEW
26th Dec 1953 65
W
 4 Wigan L H 14 4 VIEW
2nd Jan 1954 66
L
 4 Warrington L H 2 7 VIEW
9th Jan 1954 67
W
 7 Swinton L A 8 0 VIEW
16th Jan 1954 68
W
 7 Rochdale Hornets L H 28 5 VIEW
23rd Jan 1954 69
W
 7 Barrow L A 15 11 VIEW
30th Jan 1954 70
W
 7 Salford L H 29 0 VIEW
13th Feb 1954 71
W
 7 Featherstone Rovers CC1(1) H 26 7 1 VIEW
17th Feb 1954 72
W
 7 Featherstone Rovers CC1(2) A 27 16 1 VIEW
20th Feb 1954 73
D
 7 Halifax L H 5 5 VIEW
27th Feb 1954 74
L
 7 Warrington L A 8 12 VIEW
6th Mar 1954 75
L
 7 Huddersfield CC2 A 5 12 VIEW
13th Mar 1954 76
L
 7 Rochdale Hornets L A 5 9 VIEW
24th Mar 1954 77
W
 7 Workington Town L A 15 7 VIEW
3rd Apr 1954 78
W
 7 Whitehaven L H 34 12 1 VIEW
7th Apr 1954 79
L
 7 Leigh L A 13 14 1 VIEW
10th Apr 1954 80
W
 7 Bramley L A 25 12 VIEW
16th Apr 1954 81
W
 7 Wigan L A 14 8 VIEW
17th Apr 1954 82
W
 7 Widnes L H 28 4 VIEW
1st May 1954 83
L
 7 Warrington ChSF A 0 11 VIEW
7th Aug 1954 --
L
 7 Barrow* Fr Ward Cup A 17 31 1 VIEW
14th Aug 1954 84
W
 7 Widnes L H 31 3 2 VIEW
18th Aug 1954 85
W
 7 Belle Vue Rangers L A 20 11 VIEW
21st Aug 1954 86
W
 7 Blackpool Borough L A 34 2 2 VIEW
25th Aug 1954 87
W
 7 Swinton L H 28 9 1 VIEW
28th Aug 1954 88
L
 7 Oldham L H 16 23 VIEW
4th Sep 1954 89
L
 7 Halifax L A 2 22 VIEW
11th Sep 1954 90
W
 7 Whitehaven LC1 H 27 6 1 VIEW
18th Sep 1954 91
W
 7 Wakefield Trinity L A 32 18 VIEW
20th Sep 1954 92
L
 7 Oldham LC2 A 9 20 VIEW
25th Sep 1954 93
W
 7 Huddersfield L H 20 7 VIEW
19th Mar 1955 94
L
 7 Workington Town CC3 A 4 14 VIEW
21st Mar 1955 95
W
 7 Rochdale Hornets L H 23 3 VIEW
26th Mar 1955 96
W
 7 Salford L H 16 8 VIEW
2nd Apr 1955 97
W
 7 Belle Vue Rangers L H 31 0 VIEW
8th Apr 1955 98
L
 7 Wigan L A 12 16 VIEW
9th Apr 1955 99
W
 7 Halifax L H 14 8 VIEW
11th Apr 1955 100
L
 7 Huddersfield L A 11 35 VIEW
18th Apr 1955 101
L
 7 Barrow L A 3 26 VIEW
26th Oct 1955 102
W
 7 New Zealand Tour H 16 8 VIEW
5th Nov 1955 103
W
 6 Swinton L A 4 0 VIEW
17th Dec 1955 104
W
 6 Barrow L A 18 6 VIEW
24th Dec 1955 105
W
 6 Oldham L H 18 7 VIEW
27th Dec 1955 106
L
 7 Wigan L A 0 8 VIEW
31st Dec 1955 107
W
 6 Dewsbury L A 19 10 VIEW
2nd Jan 1956 108
W
 7 Leigh L A 20 6 VIEW
7th Jan 1956 109
W
 6 Salford L H 48 2 1 VIEW
11th Feb 1956 110
W
 6 Warrington CC1 H 15 6 VIEW
18th Feb 1956 111
W
 6 Dewsbury L H 36 0 1 VIEW
25th Feb 1956 112
W
 6 Swinton L H 27 10 1 VIEW
3rd Mar 1956 113
W
 6 Castleford CC2 H 48 5 2 VIEW
10th Mar 1956 114
L
 6 Warrington L A 4 17 VIEW
14th Mar 1956 115
L
 6 Halifax L A 0 12 VIEW
24th Mar 1956 116
W
 6 Bradford Northern CC3 H 53 6 VIEW
30th Mar 1956 117
W
 6 Wigan L H 29 7 1 VIEW
2nd Apr 1956 118
W
 6 Rochdale Hornets L A 14 6 VIEW
7th Apr 1956 119
D
 6 Barrow CCSF N 5 5 VIEW
11th Apr 1956 120
W
 6 Barrow CCSF(rep) N 10 5 VIEW
12th Apr 1956 121
W
 6 Workington Town L A 12 9 VIEW
21st Apr 1956 122
L
 6 Halifax ChSF A 8 23 VIEW
11th Aug 1956 --
L
 6 Barrow* Fr Ward Cup H 22 24 VIEW
18th Aug 1956 123
W
 6 Widnes L H 29 0 1 VIEW
20th Aug 1956 124
W
 6 Liverpool City L A 56 5 VIEW
25th Aug 1956 125
W
 6 Bradford Northern L A 34 7 VIEW
29th Aug 1956 126
W
 6 Salford L H 40 0 VIEW
1st Sep 1956 127
W
 6 Swinton LC1 H 27 7 1 VIEW
8th Sep 1956 128
L
 6 Oldham L H 16 25 VIEW
15th Sep 1956 129
L
 6 Hull L A 6 17 VIEW
20th Sep 1956 130
W
 7 Warrington LCSF A 17 9 VIEW
22nd Sep 1956 131
W
 7 Rochdale Hornets L H 49 11 1 VIEW
29th Sep 1956 132
W
 7 Blackpool Borough L A 58 5 1 VIEW
6th Oct 1956 133
W
 7 Liverpool City L H 25 5 VIEW
13th Oct 1956 134
W
 7 Salford L A 27 11 VIEW
20th Oct 1956 135
L
 7 Oldham LCF N 3 10 VIEW
10th Nov 1956 136
W
 6 Featherstone Rovers L H 21 16 1 VIEW
14th Nov 1956 137
L
 6 Featherstone Rovers L A 6 15 VIEW
24th Nov 1956 138
W
 6 Australia Tour H 44 2 1 VIEW
1st Dec 1956 139
W
 6 Huddersfield L H 51 4 VIEW
8th Dec 1956 140
L
 6 Oldham L A 8 9 1 VIEW
15th Dec 1956 141
W
 6 Widnes L A 10 2 1 VIEW
22nd Dec 1956 142
W
 6 Whitehaven L H 37 6 VIEW
25th Dec 1956 143
D
 6 Leigh L A 7 7 VIEW
29th Dec 1956 144
D
 6 Warrington L A 8 8 VIEW
1st Jan 1957 145
W
 6 Leigh L H 18 14 VIEW
6th Jan 1957 146
W
 4 Warrington L H 33 7 1 VIEW
12th Jan 1957 147
W
 3 Swinton L A 14 9 VIEW
19th Jan 1957 148
L
 3 Leeds L A 11 22 VIEW
2nd Feb 1957 149
W
 3 Rochdale Hornets L A 23 8 VIEW
9th Feb 1957 150
L
 4 Whitehaven CC1 A 8 9 VIEW
2nd Mar 1957 151
W
 6 Halifax L H 31 7 VIEW
9th Mar 1957 152
L
 6 Wigan L H 11 20 VIEW
20th Mar 1957 153
W
 2 Halifax L A 10 4 VIEW
23rd Mar 1957 154
W
 2 Huddersfield L A 10 9 VIEW
3rd Apr 1957 155
W
 2 Whitehaven L A 5 2 VIEW
13th Apr 1957 156
W
 2 Swinton L H 34 0 VIEW
15th Apr 1957 157
L
 2 Barrow L A 8 11 VIEW
20th Apr 1957 158
L
 2 Workington Town L A 3 26 VIEW
24th Aug 1957 159
W
 6 Hunslet L H 30 9 VIEW
21st Sep 1957 160
W
 3 Swinton L A 16 14 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 113 | LOSSES : 48 | DRAWS : 7

GALLERY





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