Joel Stephen Dixon (born 9 December 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National League side Hartlepool United.
 Dixon warming up for Hartlepool United in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joel Stephen Dixon[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 9 December 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Middlesbrough, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hartlepool United | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2012 | Sunderland | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2015 | Sunderland | 0 | (0) |
| 2013 | → Workington (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2013 | → Workington (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2014 | → Boston United (loan) | 16 | (0) |
| 2014 | → Hartlepool United (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Gateshead (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2015–2021 | Barrow | 189 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Bolton Wanderers | 24 | (0) |
| 2023– | Hartlepool United | 26 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:06, 2 March 2024 (UTC) | |||
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.
Career
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
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
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 Carabao 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] On 2 April 2023, 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
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]
Career statistics
- As of end of 2023–24 season
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sunderland | 2014–15[24] | 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[25] | League One | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 2022–23[26] | 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 | |
| Career Total | 261 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 292 | 0 | ||
Honours
Barrow
Bolton Wanderers