Whatever happened to: Jason Dozzell?
Jason Dozzell joined Tottenham Hotspur from Ipswich Town 1 August 1993 for £1.9m. The player was highly regarded at the time, and Osssie Ardiles signing of the midfielder was a real coup at the time. The 25 year old was being considered for England selection by Graham Taylor, and was regarded as a cultured goal-scoring midfielder.
When the player signed for Tottenham, Ipswich had lost a local hero. Jason Dozzell was only 16 when he made his Ipswich debut against Coventry in February 1984, and his goal late on in a 2-0 victory made him the youngest player, at 16 years and 57 days, to score in the old English Football League First Division. The following day, newspapers followed Dozzell to Chantry High School in Suffolk, printing pictures of the boy genius, still in his school uniform.
Between 1984 and 1993, Dozzell played over 300 league matches for Ipswich Town, and from midfield, scored an impressive 52 goals. Dozzell was revered at Portman Road due to his desire to play football and keep the ball on the ground, as opposed to the tactics of former boss John Duncan, who’s tactics were seen as ‘hit and hope’. However, Dozzell’s talents were more effectively harnessed under John Lyall, and the player’s success coincided with Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League in 1992. Dozzell scored 7 goals in 41 games for Ipswich In 1992/93, and before long, Ardiles and Tottenham came calling…
Spurs fans never understood why Dozzell was so revered at Portman Road, nor why the player had been marked out as a future England international. He had an awkward running style, was lanky, and appeared a little gormless. Dozzell became a figure of fun at White Hart Lane, and made just 84 league appearances for Tottenham in four seasons at the club, scoring 13 goals.
In fairness, Tottenham were going through a difficult period when Dozzell joined the club, and in his debut season, Tottenham finished just 3 points above the relegation places. Despite making 32 appearances and scoring 8 goals in his first season at Spurs, Dozzell was scorned at by most Tottenham fans for the remainder of his career. In particular, he was labelled slow and uncoordinated, eventually drifting to the periphery of the Tottenham squad, especially following the arrival of Gerry Francis in 1994.
Dozzell also suffered from a succession of injuries at White Hart Lane, as well as hitting the tabloids after an incident in a bar, involving the throwing of cake, and a drink-driving charge…
Dozzell returned to Portman Road in 1997 on loan, but a contract was not forthcoming. In 1997, he signed for Northampton Town, before joining Colchester United in 1998, where he ended his career at 34, retiring in 2001 owing to a persistent toe injury.
Today Dozzell is an aspiring football league manager, and has managed Ipswich Wanderers in the Eastern Counties Football League between 2003-2006, and Leiston between 2006-07.
Despite never quite cutting it at Tottenham, Jason Dozzell will always be an Ipswich Town legend, and in fairness, is simply one in a long line of players joining the club with a huge reputation, but ultimately failing to fulfill their potential…
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An interesting read – I cannot remember him scoring so many goals, especially in his first season. Perhaps he would b=have done better in a better (Spurs) team, and with a better (or, at least, less strange) manager than Ger’ Francis.
To my shame I confess to having been one of those who made him a figure of fun – I was younger then, I’m afraid.
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Was at Peterborough when he scored a late equaliser to spare our blushes in the fa cup. I remember him as a hard working member of a generally struggling side.
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I gave him hassle but not because he was not trying it was because he was poor and was consitantly played. Did get a few useful goals but the period makes me realise that the current bunch are not too bad. I’m glad I won’t see Ruel fox, armstrong, dozzell, nethercott etc but I was worried when Kaboul came on in midfield at the weekend.
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I had a link to the Spurs team back then. I was 16 and was given a freebie ticket by a Spurs player I knew for Arsenal v Spurs. Problem was I was in the Arsenal end. I was about 16 and went with my Grandad. We promised ourselves we would keep quiet if Spurs scored. 2mins into the game and there was a crunching tackle from a Arsenal player, I found myself jumping to my feet shouting expletives at the scum players… Oooops. It went quite for around 5 secs as I realised I had revealed my true colours. A midget (yes a real midget, not a small person height wise) jumped up in the row in front and started giving it Charlie big potatoes, screaming at me. Without thinking too much I shouted “shut up you midget mug” This encouraged most of the Gooners in that particular area to stand up and start shouting at me… 1: for being a yid 2: for starting on a midget. My Grandad backed me but the scum wasn’t having it… things got really tense and the midget was now akin to scrappy doo trying to land one on me. Someone next to the midget then pushed my Grandad. The next thing these 3 massive big guys behind me stood up and started telling the scum to behave or they would get involved. Words to the effect of “leave him alone he is a kid, he made a mistake he is with his Grandad now sit down the effing lot of ya or we will effing make ya” They looked proper hard. Turns out they were Dozzell’s brothers, all around 6 ft and up for it. Everyone sat down I turned and nodded my head at the guys in a thank you kinda way. All of a sudden Jason Dozzell set up Anderton and we went 1-0 up. All five of us went mental! Then we sat down again in silence with smiles on our faces. Game finished 1-1 but for that moment Dozzell (and his bruvs) will always be a legend to me!!!
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What happened to Jason Dozzell? Fame went to his head and he now walks round Ipswich Town Centre leching on young girls who have no idea who he is.
Sad end to what could have been a good career.
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Bazmundo, thats a brilliant story.
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I’m with Mark on that one Baz… That story is absolutely top notch, the best I’ve read in ages! Fair play to you.
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i know dozzell and he doesnt have any brothers. apart from that nice story (story being the appropriate word)baz!
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Well I was told they were his brothers if my memory serves me correctly… they were definitely related to him and definitely over 6ft (looked like hard versions of Dozzell) I was also told they all had a reputation. I was told this after the event and I was told by a Spurs player who played that night. If I got the “brother” bit wrong I’m gutted but they were definitely to do with Dozzell, it seemed to add up as I was in the section with other complementary tickets given by players to family/friends. I wouldn’t normally defend myself but it was a night I’ll never forget… In fairness if I were to name drop Spurs players on the net I wouldn’t use Dozzell.
That said, I remain forever grateful to those 3 guys.
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I know they were to do with Dozzell because they were sat in the row directly behind me and my Grandad and I vaguely (exact words fail me now) remember them speaking about Dozzell and willing him on as the game developed. I think he was getting a hard time from the majority of Spurs fans at that time (not that particular game) I can’t remember how long Dozzell had been there for at this stage…
I asked my Spurs contact who they were later that night…
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