Michael Dobson

Career

Brentford

Youth years (1990–2000) Born in Isleworth, London, Dobson began his career as a forward in the youth system at Brentford at the age of 9 and also played for Sunday club West Middlesex Colts. He signed a scholarship deal with Brentford at the end of the 1996–97 season and was named as an unused substitute on one occasion during 1998–99. Dobson signed his first professional contract at the end of the 1998–99 season, but was called onto the substitutes' bench just once during 1999–00. As a reward for his progress, Dobson signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract on 23 March 2001 and he finished the 2000–01 season with 34 appearances and three goals.

Under new manager Steve Coppell, Dobson was Brentford's regular right back during the 2001–02 season, before advancing to the 2002 Second Division play-off final, which ended in a 2–0 defeat to Stoke City. Dobson made 46 appearances and scored one goal, which came in a 3–2 FA Cup second round defeat to Scunthorpe United on 8 December 2001. Dobson signed a new three-year contract in July 2003. The Bees' slump continued into the 2003–04 season and Dobson's form suffered due to a niggling back injury, but the appointment of Martin Allen as manager in March 2004 reinvigorated the team and the club narrowly pulled off "The Great Escape" from relegation to the Third Division. He made 46 appearances and scored one goal during the 2003–04 season. He won back his place upon his return in January 2005, but began to drift out of the starting lineup in February and a broken arm suffered in a match versus Stockport County on 2 April ended his season. He made 23 appearances and scored one goal during 2004–05. On 24 November 2005, he departed to join high-flying Championship club Reading on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

Dobson reunited with his former Brentford management team of Steve Coppell and Wally Downes at Reading, but his only appearance for the Royals came as a 53rd-minute substitute for Steve Sidwell in a 3–1 victory over Stoke City on 17 April 2006. Reading celebrated promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season, though Dobson did not receive a Championship-winners' medal.

Dobson was released by Brentford at the end of the 2005–06 season and ended his career with the club on 211 appearances and seven goals.

Walsall On 7 June 2006, Dobson signed a two-year contract with newly-relegated League Two club Walsall on a free transfer. He was immediately named captain by manager Richard Money. Despite being "frequently the target of criticism", Dobson had a memorable 2006–07 season, making 42 appearances, scoring three goals and winning the first silverware of his career when the Saddlers clinched the League Two title, A less successful 2007–08 season followed, with Dobson losing his midfield place and suffering from persistent knee issues. He was released in May 2008 and finished his two-season spell with at Bescot Stadium with 68 appearances and four goals. Dobson parted the club with the words "there were a lot of things going on behind closed doors that players weren't happy about and I wasn't really enjoying my football".

Retirement After receiving advice from two specialists, recurring knee problems forced Dobson into retirement during the 2008 off-season.

Career statistics

Honours Brentford Football League Trophy runner-up: 2000–01

Walsall Football League Two: 2006–07

Individual Brentford Supporters' Player of the Month: February 2001