Dixon enjoyed 17 wonderful years playing at Villa Park - the highlight coming when he lifted the FA Cup in 1957.

Born at Hebburn-on-Tyne, County Durham, in December 1923, he joined Spennymoor United in 1940.

Villa spotted his talents in the summer of 1944 and signed him as a professional in January 1946, after he spent a season and a half playing for Villa in Wartime matches.

Dixon skippered Villa's 1957 FA Cup winning side, he was voted supporters 'terrace trophy winner in 1959 and in 1960 helped Villa win promotion to the First Division.

He played his last league game in April 1961 for Villa against Sheffield Wednesday, scoring in a 4-1 win, but ended up with a broken nose.

On retiring Dixon coached the youngsters at Villa Park for six years. He settled into business as an ironmonger on the Erdington-Sutton border retiring in September 1985 at the age of 61, and even then he was still able to turn out for Villa Old Stars in one or two charity matches.