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Joel Dixon
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Joel Stephen Dixon (born 9 December 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He last played for National League side Hartlepool United.
Key Information
Born in Middlesbrough, Dixon came through the ranks at Sunderland. After loan spells with Workington, Boston United, Hartlepool United and Gateshead, he departed Sunderland in 2015. He joined non-League Barrow and was a member of the team that won promotion to the Football League as champions in 2020. After six seasons with Barrow, he moved to League One club Bolton Wanderers. He won the EFL Trophy in his second season before re-joining Hartlepool United in 2023. After two seasons with Hartlepool he was released.
Career
[edit]Born in Middlesbrough,[2] Dixon began his career at Sunderland, spending two loan spells at Workington.[3] He moved on loan to Boston United in November 2014.[4] After a loan spell with Hartlepool United he moved on loan to Gateshead in March 2015.[5][6]
Barrow
[edit]He moved to Barrow in 2015.[7] Dixon was a part of the Barrow side that won the National League in the 2019–20 season, featuring in all 37 matches,[8] before the early curtailment of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic with Barrow being awarded the title after the standings were determined on a points-per-game basis.[9][10] Dixon then appeared in all 46 matches the following season as Barrow avoided relegation.[11] At the end of the 2020–21 season, Dixon was offered a new contract with the club.[12]
Bolton Wanderers
[edit]On 25 June 2021, Bolton Wanderers announced that Dixon would join them on 1 July on a two-year deal after he rejected the contract offer from Barrow.[13][14] His debut came on 10 August against EFL Championship side Barnsley in the EFL Cup where he kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw and then saved Devante Cole's penalty in the resultant penalty shoot-out, helping Bolton win the game.[15] His league debut came the following Saturday away at AFC Wimbledon.[16] He was an unused substitute in the 2023 EFL Trophy final. Bolton went on to win 4–0 against Plymouth Argyle to win the trophy.[17] On 23 May the club confirmed that Dixon would be leaving at the end of his contract in June.[18]
Hartlepool United
[edit]In June 2023 it was announced that Dixon would sign for National League side Hartlepool United on 1 July.[19] He made his Hartlepool debut on the opening match of the season in a 3–2 defeat to Barnet.[20] However, he lost his position as first choice goalkeeper to Peter Jameson after six games.[21] He later returned to the starting eleven at the end of October.[22] At the end of the 2023–24 season, Dixon was made available for transfer having made 28 appearances throughout the campaign.[23][2] He started the first six matches of the 2024–25 season and kept three consecutive clean sheets.[24] However, in September 2024 it was announced he would be out for a minimum of three months following an ACL injury.[25] He returned to the bench following injury in February 2025 but would suffer a further injury setback.[24] At the end of the 2024–25 season, it was announced that he would be released by Hartlepool at the end of his contract.[26]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of 31 August 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sunderland | 2014–15[27] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Boston United (loan) | 2014–15[2] | Conference North | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| Gateshead (loan) | 2014–15[2] | Conference Premier | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Barrow | 2015–16[2] | National League | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 49 | 0 | |
| 2016–17[2] | National League | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18[2] | National League | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19[2] | National League | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[2] | National League | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21[11] | League Two | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| Total | 189 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 203 | 0 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2021–22[28] | League One | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 2022–23[29] | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
| Hartlepool United | 2023–24[2] | National League | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[2] | National League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Total | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 267 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 298 | 0 | ||
Honours
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Barrow" (PDF). English Football League. p. 6. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Joel Dixon at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Sunderland keeper Joel Dixon moves to Workington - Tribal Football". www.tribalfootball.com.
- ^ "Boston snap up Sunderland keeper Joel Dixon - Tribal Football". www.tribalfootball.com.
- ^ "Gateshead sign Sunderland keeper". BBC Sport.
- ^ Johns, Craig (24 March 2015). "Sunderland goalkeeper Joel Dixon joins Gateshead on loan until the end of the season". ChronicleLive.
- ^ "AFC 'keeper Dixon deserved his big moment at Aldershot, says Evatt". The Mail. 11 September 2019.
- ^ "Games played by Joel Dixon in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Barrow Win 2019/20 National League Title". www.barrowafc.com. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Barrow promoted back to English Football League after National League vote". BBC Sport. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Games played by Joel Dixon in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Bluebirds Confirm Retained List". www.barrowafc.com. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Wanderers sign up Goalkeeper Dixon". bwfc.co.uk. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ "Wanderers sign goalkeeper Dixon". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Bolton Wanderers 0–0 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ "AFC Wimbledon - Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Wanderers Confirm Retained List". bwfc.co.uk. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ Ramage, Joe (4 June 2023). "Hartlepool United confirm double swoop as ex-Sunderland goalkeeper and Scarborough Athletic defender join". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ Ramage, Joe (5 August 2023). "Barnet 3–2 Hartlepool United: Pools beaten on National League return despite late fightback". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ Ramage, Joe (11 October 2023). "This is how Hartlepool United have fared so far in the National League season - gallery". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Joel Dixon in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ "Retained List 2023/24". Hartlepool United FC. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ a b Stelling, Robbie (9 May 2025). "Robbie Stelling's Hartlepool United end of season grades - galley". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "It's now been confirmed that Joel Dixon is expected to miss a minimum of three months following his ACL injury". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Retained List". Hartlepool United FC. 24 May 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ "Games played by Joel Dixon in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Joel Dixon in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Joel Dixon in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
Joel Dixon
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Joel Dixon (born 9 December 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. Standing at 1.93 metres (6 ft 4 in) tall, he is right-footed and began his professional career with Sunderland in 2012, making loan appearances for clubs including Hartlepool United, Boston United, and Gateshead before signing permanently with Barrow in 2015.[1][2]
Dixon spent six seasons at Barrow across three spells (2015–2018, 2018–2019, and 2019–2021), appearing 181 times in the National League and contributing to their promotion to the Football League as champions in 2020.[3][2] He then joined Bolton Wanderers in 2021, where he played 25 matches in League One over two seasons, before returning to Hartlepool United on a two-year contract in 2023.[4][2] His contract with Hartlepool expired on 30 June 2025, leaving him without a club as of November 2025.[1]
Throughout his career, Dixon has accumulated over 300 professional appearances, primarily in the lower tiers of English football, including 181 matches in the National League, 46 in League Two, and 25 in League One, along with appearances in cup competitions such as the FA Cup and EFL Trophy.[3][2]
Early life and youth career
Early life
Joel Dixon was born on 9 December 1993 in Middlesbrough, England.[1][5]Youth development at Sunderland
Born in Middlesbrough, Dixon opted to join Sunderland's youth academy rather than his hometown club, beginning his development as a goalkeeper in the club's ranks as a youngster.[6][7] Dixon progressed through Sunderland's age-group teams, advancing from the U18 squad to the U21 development team by the 2012–13 season, where he served as one of the club's promising young goalkeepers.[8] Despite his steady development in the youth system, Dixon was unable to secure a first-team opportunity and was released by Sunderland in May 2015, alongside other development squad players, concluding his academy phase.[9][10]Club career
Sunderland and early loans (2012–2015)
Joel Dixon signed his first professional contract with Sunderland in July 2012, shortly after turning 18, having progressed through the club's academy since joining at age 14.[11] As a development squad goalkeeper, he served as third choice behind established players like Vito Mannone and Jordan Pickford, and he never made a first-team appearance for the Premier League club during his three-year tenure.[12][13] To gain senior experience, Dixon was loaned to non-League side Workington in the Conference North in February 2013, initially for a month before an extension, and again in November 2013. He made 12 appearances across the two spells, featuring primarily in the latter half of the 2012–13 season and early 2013–14 campaign, where he helped the team in their survival bid.[14][15] In March 2014, Dixon joined Boston United on a short-term loan in the National League North, extended until the end of the season, where he became the first-choice goalkeeper and made 16 appearances.[16] His performances included several clean sheets, contributing to the club's mid-table finish, though he was recalled briefly before returning. Later that year, in November 2014, he rejoined Boston on another loan until February 2015, adding further matches to his tally and solidifying his experience at the sixth tier. Dixon's next move came in August 2014 with an emergency one-month loan to League Two side Hartlepool United, where he provided cover but did not feature in any competitive matches, remaining an unused substitute.[17][13] In March 2015, following an injury to Gateshead's regular keeper, he was loaned to the National League club until the end of the season, making 6 appearances and helping in their promotion push via the play-offs, though they ultimately fell short.[13][16] Despite these loans providing valuable exposure, Dixon was released by Sunderland in May 2015 at the end of his contract, as the club deemed further development opportunities limited in their youth setup.[9]Barrow (2015–2021)
Dixon joined Barrow on a free transfer from Sunderland on 2 July 2015, signing a two-year contract under manager Darren Edmondson. He quickly integrated into the squad in the National League, making 46 league appearances in his debut 2015–16 season as the club finished 10th.[18][19] By the 2016–17 campaign, Dixon had established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, reclaiming the position after a brief spell on the bench the previous year.[20] Over the next three seasons, Dixon played a pivotal role in Barrow's efforts to maintain their National League status and push for promotion. In 2016–17, he featured in 21 league matches as the team narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 18th.[18][21] The following year, 2017–18, saw Barrow struggle further, ending 22nd but surviving due to points deductions for other clubs; Dixon appeared in 11 league games during this tense campaign.[18][22] His consistency continued into 2018–19, where he made 28 league appearances, helping the side secure a ninth-place finish just outside the playoffs.[3][18][23] Dixon's most significant contributions came in the 2019–20 season, curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as Barrow clinched the National League title and promotion to the EFL. He played every one of the 37 league matches, totaling 3,330 minutes, and recorded clean sheets in several crucial fixtures that bolstered the team's title charge.[24][25] Across his six-year tenure, Dixon made 195 appearances in all competitions, becoming one of the club's most reliable performers.[20][26] His contract expired at the end of June 2021, and after rejecting a new offer, he departed Barrow as a free agent.[27]Bolton Wanderers (2021–2023)
Dixon joined Bolton Wanderers on a two-year deal on 1 July 2021, following the club's announcement on 25 June after he turned down a new contract at Barrow.[28][27] During his tenure, he made 37 appearances across all competitions, often serving as deputy to the first-choice goalkeeper.[29][26] In the 2021–22 season, Dixon featured prominently with 29 appearances, including 23 in League One.[29][30] His involvement decreased in the 2022–23 season to eight appearances, including starts in League One and the EFL Trophy during periods when the primary goalkeeper was unavailable due to injury or selection.[29][31] Dixon recorded four appearances in the EFL Trophy that year, contributing to Bolton's successful campaign with one clean sheet.[32] He was an unused substitute in the 2023 EFL Trophy final, a 4–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle at Wembley Stadium.[33][34] Dixon was released by Bolton in May 2023 upon the expiry of his contract, as part of the club's squad rebuild for the following season.[35] This period marked his first major trophy win with the EFL Trophy honour.Hartlepool United (2023–2025)
In July 2023, Joel Dixon signed a two-year contract with Hartlepool United, returning to the club on a permanent basis almost a decade after his initial loan spell there in 2014.[36] The move from Bolton Wanderers was completed as a free transfer, with Dixon expressing optimism about helping the team rebound from relegation to the National League.[37] During the 2023–24 season, Dixon featured in 28 matches for Hartlepool, starting 26 of them and sharing goalkeeping responsibilities with teammate Ben Killip amid a challenging campaign for the club. His performances were described as reliable in key fixtures, including a notable clean sheet in the team's opening-day victory over Gateshead, though the side ultimately finished 18th and avoided relegation by a narrow margin.[38][39] Dixon began the 2024–25 season strongly, making six appearances before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in August 2024 during a match against Rochdale, which ruled him out for a minimum of three months.[40][41] He made a brief return to the bench in February 2025 but encountered a minor setback in his rehabilitation, limiting his overall involvement to just those initial outings.[42] At the conclusion of his contract in May 2025, Hartlepool United announced Dixon's release alongside several other players, citing the need for squad rebuilding and his ongoing injury recovery as key factors in the decision.[43] This departure left Dixon as a free agent entering the summer transfer window.Post-Hartlepool (2025–present)
Following his release from Hartlepool United at the end of the 2024–25 season, Joel Dixon became a free agent on 1 July 2025.[1][44] Dixon, who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in August 2024 during a match against Rochdale, underwent surgery in March 2025 after a series of setbacks that ruled him out for the remainder of the season.[40][41][45] His rehabilitation has focused on regaining full knee stability and match fitness, with standard ACL recovery timelines suggesting a return to competitive play by late 2025 at the earliest.[42] As of November 2025, the 31-year-old goalkeeper has not secured a new contract or reported any trials, coaching roles, or media appearances beyond routine recovery updates.[1] At this stage in his career, Dixon remains positioned for a potential return to lower-league football upon completing his rehabilitation.[44]Career statistics
Club appearances
Joel Dixon's club career has seen him make a total of 267 league appearances as of August 2024, with additional cup and playoff games bringing his overall total to approximately 300 competitive matches, all without scoring as a goalkeeper.[3][46] The following table provides a breakdown of his appearances by season, club, and competition type.| Season | Club | League | Cup | Playoffs/Other | Total | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–15 | Sunderland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Barrow | 40 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | Barrow | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | Barrow | 35 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | Barrow | 28 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | Barrow | 37 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Barrow | 46 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | Bolton Wanderers | 23 | 8 | 2 | 33 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Bolton Wanderers | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Hartlepool United | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | Hartlepool United | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025–present | Unattached | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 267 | 16 | 2 | 285 | 0 |
Summary by competition
Joel Dixon's professional career as a goalkeeper demonstrates a progression from non-league football to the English Football League (EFL), with the bulk of his appearances occurring in the fifth tier National League. He began in the sixth tier National League North, making 22 appearances across loans and early stints, before establishing himself in the National League with 181 appearances, where he recorded 55 clean sheets for a 30% clean sheet rate.[3] In the EFL, Dixon featured 46 times in League Two during the 2020–21 season with Barrow, keeping 9 clean sheets (20% rate), and 24 times in League One over two seasons with Bolton Wanderers, with 4 clean sheets (17% rate).[3] Overall, he has 273 league appearances with no goals scored, reflecting his role as a reliable but non-scoring custodian.[3] In cup competitions, Dixon has 13 senior appearances, primarily in domestic knockout tournaments. He played 4 matches in the FA Cup without a clean sheet and 4 in the EFL Cup, achieving 2 shutouts.[3] Additional outings include 4 games in the FA Trophy with 2 clean sheets. He contributed to Bolton's 2023 EFL Trophy final victory as an unused substitute in the 4–0 win over Plymouth Argyle, but made no appearances in the competition.[3][47]| Competition | Appearances | Clean Sheets | Clean Sheet % | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National League North | 22 | 3 | 13.6% | 1,980 |
| National League | 181 | 55 | 30.4% | 16,233 |
| League Two | 46 | 9 | 19.6% | 4,140 |
| League One | 24 | 4 | 16.7% | 2,160 |
| League Total | 273 | 71 | 26.0% | 24,513 |