Dion Scott (English footballer)

Dion Elijah Scott (born 24 December 1980) is an English footballer who played in the Football League for Walsall and Kidderminster Harriers. A central defender, he was also on the books of Mansfield Town, where injury prevented his playing for them in the League, and appeared in non-league football for teams including Boston United (in two spells), Nuneaton Borough, AFC Telford United, Tividale, Oldbury Athletic (two spells), Sutton Coldfield Town, Oldbury Athletic and Bromsgrove Rovers.

Dion Scott
Personal information
Full name Dion Elijah Scott[1]
Date of birth (1980-12-24) 24 December 1980[1]
Place of birth Bearwood, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
0000–1998 Walsall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2002 Walsall 2 (0)
2001 → Boston United (loan) 4 (0)
2001–2002 → Boston United (loan) 3 (1)
2002–2003 Mansfield Town 0 (0)
2003 Kidderminster Harriers 19 (1)
2003–2004 Nuneaton Borough 22 (0)
2004–200? AFC Telford United
2005–200? Tividale
200?–2008 Oldbury Athletic
2008 Sutton Coldfield Town
2008–2009 Oldbury Athletic
2009–2010 Cradley Town
2010 Bromsgrove Rovers 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life and career

Scott was born in Bearwood, West Midlands.[3] He is the older brother of footballer David Davis.[4] Scott attended Perryfields Comprehensive School in Oldbury, and played representative football for Warley Schools.[5] He joined Walsall as a trainee,[6] and in the 1998–99 season, he captained Walsall's youth team on a run to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, in which they eliminated Tottenham Hotspur's youngsters on penalties after a replay,[7] before going out to the eventual Cup-winners, a West Ham United side that included six under-age internationals, one of whom, Joe Cole, had already made his Premier League debut.[8] At the end of that season, Walsall's first team were promoted to the First Division, and Scott turned professional.[6]

Football League career

Walsall

Scott was included among the substitutes for the First Division visit to Blackburn Rovers in September 1999.[9] He remained unused, and did not make his first-team debut until the following season, after Walsall's relegation to the Second Division. On 30 January 2001, Scott started in the Football League Trophy match at home to Wigan Athletic and put up what the Evening Mail dubbed "an encouraging display" in the 2–1 win,[10] but in the next round, he was "out of his depth" in a 4–0 defeat away to Stoke City.[11] Scott made his first appearance in the Football League on 5 May away to Northampton Town. Graydon had rested several players ahead of the play-offs, and starting centre-back Ian Roper struggled so badly against Lee Howey and the windy conditions that Scott replaced him after 21 minutes; Walsall won the match 3–0.[12] With established centre half Ian Brightwell doubtful for the October 2001 visit to Sheffield Wednesday, it was between Scott and Roper to replace him; Roper started, and Scott came on in the 89th minute to make his only appearance in the First Division.[13]

Scott joined Boston United of the Football Conference on 2 November 2001 on loan for a month.[3] He started four matches[14] – the Lincolnshire Echo described how he "crowned a fine debut with an heroic goal-line clearance after Whitehall had skipped round Bastock, fired towards a gaping net and seemed an almost certain scorer"[15] – before being recalled because of an injury crisis at Walsall.[16] His services were not used,[17] and after recovering from influenza[18] he returned to Boston for another month. His first senior goal opened the scoring in a 6–1 win against Forest Green Rovers,[17][19] and on an icy New Year's Day, he and three team-mates were involved in a car accident on the way to that day's match. Two players were unable to take the field; Scott did so, but the match was abandoned just before half-time because the pitch was unplayable.[20] He made three more appearances before returning to Walsall.[14]

Mansfield Town

Since turning professional, Scott had played regularly for Walsall's reserves but had failed to force his way into the first team. New manager Colin Lee prioritised adding experience to the defence, so in April 2002, Scott signed for Second Division club Mansfield Town on a free transfer.[21] A shoulder injury prevented him from playing, and new manager Keith Curle released him in January 2003.[2]

Kidderminster Harriers

After a trial, Scott joined Third Division club Kidderminster Harriers on non-contract terms.[2][22] He began well defensively,[23] and on 11 February scored his first and what would prove only Football League goal, an 83rd-minute headed equaliser away to Carlisle United.[24] His short-term deal was renewed in March,[25] and he was hopeful that a longer deal might be forthcoming if he continued to impress with his "no-nonsense" defensive style: he described himself as "not the most talented footballer you will every see but I can head and clear the ball away, that's what I'm best at. I leave the skilful stuff to the lads around me!"[26] However, mistakes crept in, Harriers dropped out of the play-off places, and in light of the club's financial issues, Scott was let go.[27]

Non-League career

Scott joined Nuneaton Borough of the Southern League Premier Division on a two-year contract ahead of the 2003–04 season, but an Achilles injury meant he was unable to make his debut until mid-November.[28] He made 22 league starts,[29] but was transfer-listed at the end of the season because new manager Roger Ashby thought his performances did not justify his high wages.[28] His contract was cancelled and he signed for Northern Premier League Division One club AFC Telford United,[30] but a pre-season shin injury kept him out for months.[31]

His later clubs included Tividale of the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division,[32] Oldbury Athletic of Midland Combination Division One, a short spell in the Southern League Midlands Division with Sutton Coldfield Town[33] before returning to Oldbury in the Midland Combination Premier Division,[34] then Cradley Town,[35] and he was on the books of Bromsgrove Rovers ahead of the 2010–11 season before that club folded.[36]

References
  1. "Dion Scott". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  2. "Dion Scott". Worcester News. 6 March 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2023. Scott joined Harriers on a non-contract basis in late January and made a solid Football League full debut against Bournemouth in defence.
  3. "Boston United Football Club Old News". Boston United F.C. 2 November 2001. Archived from the original on 3 January 2002.
  4. "Special Feature: Making the grade". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 24 March 2009. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  5. Thomas, Bob (2 December 1995). "West Mids run riot". Sports Argus. Birmingham. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Edwards, Leigh. "Ultimate Saddlers A–Z 15". Walsall F.C. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012.
  7. Marston, Paul (30 January 1999). "Graydon garden in full bloom". Sports Argus. Birmingham. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com. It was a marvellous team effort, superbly marshalled by skipper and central defender Dion Scott, who always looks exceptional.
  8. Marston, Paul (2 March 1999). "Young guns Hammered!". Evening Mail. Birmingham. p. 47 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Bishop, Rob (25 September 1999). "Youngsters land Saddlers chance". Birmingham Post. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Marston, Paul (31 January 2001). "Young guns steal the show for Ray". Evening Mail. Birmingham. p. 53. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via ProQuest.
  11. Marston, Paul (8 February 2001). "No kidding for Ray". Evening Mail. Birmingham. p. 109. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via ProQuest.
  12. Marston, Paul (7 May 2001). "Veterans step in to keep spirited Saddlers on right path". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. p. 19. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via ProQuest.
  13. Marston, Paul (19 October 2001). "Saddlers have doubt over Brightwell". Evening Mail. Birmingham. p. 94. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via ProQuest.
  14. "Boston United's Season 2001/2". Boston United F.C. Archived from the original on 2 October 2002.
  15. Singleton, Barbara (3 November 2001). "Pilgrims 0–0 Southport". Lincolnshire Echo. Archived from the original on 1 June 2002 – via Boston United F.C.
  16. Marston, Paul (4 December 2001). "Scott's back for Walsall". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  17. "Games played by Dion Scott in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  18. Marston, Paul (19 December 2001). "Walsall suffer travel sickness". Evening Mail. Birmingham. p. 47. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via ProQuest.
  19. Singleton, Barbara (29 December 2001). "Pilgrims 6–1 Forest Green Rovers". Lincolnshire Echo. Archived from the original on 2 October 2002 – via Boston United F.C.
  20. Metcalf, Rupert (4 January 2002). "Boston players' off-field drama". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  21. Marston, Paul (24 April 2002). "Freed Scott heads for Mansfield". Evening Mail. Birmingham. p. 31. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via ProQuest.
  22. "Melligan worry for Harriers test". Worcester News. 24 January 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  23. "Division new boys hold no fear for Brit". Worcester News. 6 February 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2023. [Goalkeeper] Digby otherwise had little to do and fellow debutant Dion Scott was partly to thank for that with a solid, no-nonsense display at centre-back.
    "Scott another ace in pack for Britton". Worcester News. 11 February 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
    "Gulls brought down to earth". Worcester News. 18 February 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2023. Ian Britton's men kept a second successive clean sheet in home games and the no-nonsense approach of centre-back Dion Scott has been a major factor.
  24. "Carlisle 2–2 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  25. "Defensive duo extend deals". Worcester News. 6 March 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  26. "Scott out to prove staying power". Worcester News. 15 March 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  27. "Wrexham Trundle on with win". Worcester News. 23 April 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2023. That was until Trundle thundered the ball home from distance, giving Brock no chance, after defender Dion Scott had stood off and invited him to shoot.
    "Britton wielding close-season axe". Worcester News. 15 May 2003. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  28. "Boro to ditch Dion". Coventry Telegraph. 21 May 2004. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  29. "Statistics Log 1889–2020" (PDF). From Town to Town. Nuneaton Town Supporters' Co-operative. 2020. pp. 247–249. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  30. "Scott off to Telford". Coventry Telegraph. 30 June 2004. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  31. "Bucks suffer Scott blow". Sports Argus. Birmingham. 24 July 2004. p. 21. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via Gale OneFile: News.
    Pullen, Nick (30 October 2004). "Boo-boys won't win: Boss McNally's pledge to turn season around". Sports Argus. Birmingham. p. 31. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via Gale OneFile: News. McNally is ready to accept defeat with central defender Dion Scott. The former Mansfield Town and Kidderminster Harriers stopper has failed to recover from his fractured shin since arriving in the summer from Nuneaton Borough. McNally maintained: 'I took a gamble with Dion and thought we might have to wait just three or four weeks for him to recover. I now accept it isn't going to happen, in fact it's gone from bad to worse. Dion will have further tests on the injury and we're already looking at early January, if not much longer.'
  32. "New faces in at Dale". This is The Black Country. 3 November 2005. Archived from the original on 6 March 2006.
  33. "Dion Scott". Birmingham Post. 4 October 2008. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  34. "Hat-trick hero has six appeal". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. 9 November 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via ProQuest.
  35. "Green is in at Town". Halesowen News. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2023. He has brought in former Walsall and Boston United defender Dion Scott from Oldbury Athletic, along with Leroy Murphy from Bartley Green.
  36. "Clubs back in action". Bromsgrove Advertiser. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
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