Jason Dozzell ‘so proud’ to see his son Andre follow in his footsteps

Andre Dozzell scores on his debut at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (Image: Pagepix Ltd 07976 935738)

Andre – aged 16 and 350 days – stepped off the bench at half-time and headed home the equaliser in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

It was an incredible moment made even more remarkable due to the fact it came 32 years after Jason had become the youngest goalscorer in English top-flight history (a record which still stands) when he stepped off the bench aged 16 and 57 days to score in Town’s 3-1 home win over Coventry (February 1984).

Dozzell senior, who went on to play more than 400 times for his hometown club before completing a £1.9m move to Tottenham, was among the away fans at Hillsborough and back coaching his Under-13 team at Playford Road this morning.

“It was an unbelievable day, so emotional – I still don’t think it has sunk in fully to be honest,” he said.

“Once I found out he was going to be on the bench I asked Bryan Klug (academy director) for the day off so I could go up there just in case he got on for a minute or so. I never expected him to come on at half-time.

“The goal seemed to happen in slow motion. I can’t remember much after the ball hit the net! It just seemed like fate that he would do what I did at that age.

“I was an Ipswich supporter long before I played for the club and used to go to all the games home and away, so to be back in the away end was special.

“Hearing the fans singing his name had the hairs on my neck standing up. I’m so proud.”

Dozzell added: “I didn’t get to see him after the game, but I spoke to him three times on the phone while he was travelling back on the coach. He was in for recovery this morning and I was coaching, so I’m hoping to see him this afternoon. He must be feeling 10 feet tall.”

– See tomorrow’s EADT and Ipswich Star for six pages of reaction to Dozzell’s big day.