THERE is a tone of quiet menace in the voice of Julian Dicks as he reveals his true feelings about facing West Ham in the FA Cup.
The Hammers’ cult-hero, nicknamed ‘Terminator’, growls: “I won’t have a problem knocking them out.”
Julian Dicks, left, will face his former club when West Brom take on West Ham on SaturdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Julian Dicks, left, worked with now-Baggies boss Slaven Bilic at West HamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
It is a given to expect every professional to want their side to win but with Dicks it is different.
West Brom’s assistant manager went to war for West Ham over 11 years in two spells as a rampaging left-back with a reputation as one of football’s genuine hard men.
Putting his long-term health to one side to undergo eight major knee ops and playing in constant pain underlines his ferocious commitment.
Dicks, now 51, also served as first- team coach alongside former team-mate Slaven Bilic during the tumultuous year in 2016 which saw West Ham uprooted from Upton Park to move to the London Stadium.
The uncompromising defender embodied the nature of the club’s old- school supporters and he cannot shake his love for West Ham despite being sacked by them two years ago.
Dicks put emotion to one side once before when he went back to Upton Park with Liverpool during his brief 13 months at Anfield as a player.
He said: “I actually walked into the wrong dressing room. I went into the home one by mistake. I was clearly just on auto-pilot.
“I think Eddie Gillam was the kit man at the time and he told me I was in the wrong room and said, ‘You’re not in here any more, mate’
“It did feel weird going back as an away team player. I had been at West Ham for five or six years.
“I didn’t want to go to Liverpool but the club wanted to sell me to raise money to bring in other players.
“We won 2-1 that day and was I pleased we had beaten West Ham? Yes.
I won’t have a problem knocking them out.
Julian Dicks
“Would I have celebrated had I scored at Upton Park? Yes — because that is me.
“It was strange going back but I had a job to do, like I will have with West Brom.
“I didn’t see the draw for the fourth round but beforehand, Danilo one of our coaches, asked me if I would like to play against them. I said ‘I’d absolutely love it. And when the draw happened my phone went mental.
“I see West Ham as a club I had 11 great years with. I have great memories of Upton Park and the
supporters.
“To me there are none better in the whole of football. You give everything for them and they will give everything for you.
“I am looking forward to seeing them all again on Saturday and I hope nobody will mind me saying that me and the fans of West Ham have an unbreakable bond.
“But I’m at West Brom and we want to progress. Besides, the London Stadium doesn’t feel like home to me.
“I never played there and nothing will ever replace Upton Park for me.”
Julian Dicks remains a fan favourite at West HamCredit: Rex Features
Dicks was a classy as well as a full-blooded defender.
After getting the bullet from West Ham he took his expertise to coach in the USA before reuniting with Bilic to revitalise the Baggies.
Despite a home defeat by Stoke on Monday they are top of the Championship and in pole position for promotion after two years out of the Premier League.
League points take priority but Dicks and Bilic will not allow their players to switch off in the Cup when there is a chance to stick it to the club that sacked them both and replaced them with current West Ham boss David Moyes.
Although Dicks will first have to remember to turn left for the away dugout at the London Stadium instead of right.
Dicks added: “When the draw was made Slav came in the next day and told me to get straight to the gym because he is going to pick me to play against West Ham.
“No chance of that, my knees are too bad these days, but I’d give my right arm to play.
“Promotion has to be the priority but the Cup is big for me and Slaven.
“There is a lot of talk about the Cup being sacrificed because there are too many games nowadays.
“I remember back in around 1990 West Ham played loads of matches. I think Kevin Keen played 62 or 63 matches.
“Even I played about 59 or 60, which makes me think I can’t have been sent off much that season. Probably why it sticks in my mind.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
