An extremely gifted footballer with the ability to produce the unexpected, Mick Dagless, was a crowd favourite at Croft Park throughout the 70’s.
Dago as he was known to his teammates, was a regular name on the score-sheet and ended his Spartans career with a remarkable 140 goals from midfield. Such was his reputation as a creative lynchpin he would often be faced by opponents instructed to carry out a man-marking job.
Described by many as the Glen Hoddle of the Northern League his ability to score spectacular goals was a trademark he shared with the Spurs and England legend. One memorable effort against Preston North End would write the midfielder’s name in to Spartans folklore. In the F.A. Cup game against a team containing Bobby Charlton and Nobby Stiles it was Dagless who threatened to grab the headlines with a thunderous free kick: “It was a low hard shot into the corner, it wasn’t the best goal I scored but one I remember fondly due to the occasion.” Unfortunately the visitors equalised and Blyth were beaten in the replay at Deepdale.
Born in Norfolk, Mike moved to Peterborough at the age of 11 where his performances for his school impressed scouts from Peterborough United. He was soon representing ‘The Posh’ in youth sides and later for the reserves as well as being capped by England schoolboys. He moved to the North East at the age of 18 to study Chemistry at Newcastle University. Whilst playing for the University’s first team he was snapped up by North Shields and made his debut in the 1969 Amateur Cup Final which they won 2-0. His talent did not go unnoticed and he was being watched by several league clubs, most notably the best team in the land; Liverpool. He turned down a chance to sign for Hartlepool United, then of the Fourth Division, and regrets not giving the professional game a go: “Looking back I wish I’d signed just to see how far the full time training and the extra fitness would have taken me in the game.” For a player who possessed guile, vision and technical ability in abundance, the step up to a higher level would not have troubled Dagless.
Ever since his non-league baptism at North Shields Mike always wanted to play for the Spartans which can be attributed in part to the Croft Park grounds men: “I was always impressed with the condition of the pitch at Blyth. It was nice and wide and excellent for players who liked to pass the ball. I felt I could express myself better on a good playing surface. ”
By the time he signed for Blyth in 1971 Mike was teaching Chemistry at King Edward Grammar school in Morpeth, where he remained until his retirement two years ago. He soon established himself as a regular in the Spartans side. His influential performances were crucial to Blyth’s Northern League triumphs throughout that era. Having played under several managers at Blyth Mike explained how they all had very different ideas on how to approach games: “Billy Bell was very tactical. In training we worked on our positional play a lot and where we should be on the pitch when we lost the ball. It was very structured and it was an effective way of playing and we done a lot of fitness training. Billy had a successful record over a long period of time with many different clubs. From a personal point of view I felt I played better in Alan O’Neil’s team. He basically just let me play and I really enjoyed that time. He was more laid back than Billy and the team fared less well by Blyth’s standards but O’Neil’s style of management really suited me.”
The successful Blyth side of the 70’s had a core of players that included Ronnie Scott, Eddie Alder, Brian Slane and Dagless himself. Slane had became manager by the time the 77-78 campaign got underway and he was forming a team around the nucleus that had served Blyth so well in previous seasons.
It was therefore an extremely cruel blow for Mike when an injury against Enfield meant he would take no further part in the famous F.A. cup run: “It was devastating really. I hadn’t been out through injury prior to that season and it obviously happened at the worst possible time. I was probably fit by the time we faced Wrexham again in the replay but the team was settled and playing brilliantly so there wasn’t a chance I could get back in.
I remember walking out onto the pitch at St James and seeing the huge crowd. From a personal point of view it was sickening to miss the chance to play in such a match” Although the cup run might have been a shock to many, Mike knew something special was happening at Croft Park: “Brian had brought in some real quality during the summer.
The likes of Terry Johnson, Dave Clarke and then later on Alan Shoulder were key players during that run. Brian had a good eye for a player and Jackie Marks was the best possible motivator so it was a good combination.”
Mick may have been ‘sickened’ to miss the Wrexham cup ties but got to face them when he starred in both legs of Blyth’s Debenhams Cup win over the Third Division Champions.
After such an illustrious playing career Mick moved into management with Alnwick Town & Whitley Bay. In November 1983 Mick became Blyth manager taking over when John Connolly left, but unfortunately things didn’t quite run smoothly during his time in the hot seat and he resigned in May 1984 (the day before an Senior Cup Final) stating, “I resigned because I was disappointed with the attitude and open criticism of myself and my players I have brought to the side from certain members of the board. This reached an unacceptable level and it made my job extremely difficult”.
Mike’s performances in a green and white shirt are still remembered fondly by those who witnessed his exquisite skills. It wasn’t just on the terraces where Dagless was so greatly revered but also in the changing room where his own teammates recognised him as a class act.