All-time leading scorer backing Boycie to keep banging them in

Speaking at last Saturday night's Garvagh, Kilrea and District Supporters' Club awards night Dickson praised Patterson for his goal scoring achievements this term. But the Ballymoney man was quick to point out that he feels Boyce, who picked up the Coleraine Times Players Player of the Year award, is just as capable in front of the net.

"Yes Rory has done well this season hitting 41 goals, it is a great achievement for him," said Dessie. "But people forget about the other players in the squad who are just as good.

"Darren Boyce will score goals for fun. I think he's got 23 this season, he is still a young man and I feel that he will only get better."

And Dickson should know. The former striker finished the league's leading scorer on no less than five occasions. In total he scored 452 goals in 623 games for the Bannsiders, not bad for a player who needed contact lenses, as he recalled.

"I remember I was just starting off at The Showgrounds and Bertie Peacock was the manager," he said. "He told me to go and get contact lenses as the ball was always running away from me. Once I got them I never looked back," he laughed.

"Bertie was a fantastic manager though and it was a fantastic bit of business by another Coleraine legend, Jack Doherty, to bring him back to Coleraine."

But for all his prowess in front of goal Dickson told the audience he was barred from taking penalties after one game at Seaview.

"I managed to score four in a game against the Crues, but I ended up getting a telling off from the boss as I missed two penalties that day. I wasn't allowed to hit them after that!"

Dessie also had a terrific goals scoring record in Europe, netting seven times in 16 games including a hat-trick against Kilmarnock in the Fairs Cup.

"That was a great night for us and a super result against what was a talented Kilmarnock side," he said. "I ended up having to play about half the game with only one contact lens, thankfully it didn't matter though.

"The Spurs game in 1982 was another great occasion and it was fantastic for the younger players to come against the likes of Hoddle, Archibald and Perryman. We had some memorable games in Europe, but I think that was the best."

Dickson also represented his country on several occasions whilst starring for the Bannsiders and he believes that some of today's squad can do the same.

"For me playing for your country is the ultimate goal," he said. "We all start off playing on wee pitches, but I think it's been shown down the years, and even in the past year, that you can still achieve this playing for Coleraine. If you're good enough you'll get there.

"David's (Platt) done a great job and there are so many talented young local players in the squad now and I don't see any reason why they can't go on and win something very soon.

"I have some fantastic memories playing for Northern Ireland including being on the bench the night Bobby Charlton won his 100th cap for England.

"But the stand out memory has to be when George Best swapped shirts with me. We were playing against Wales in Swansea and I had asked if I could have his shirt, and he said only if he could have mine.

"He was a one off, a truly fantastic player."