Dodge helps out at Birmingham

Former Hereford United player Ian Rodgerson, usually known as Dodge, is currently working at Birmingham City in the youth academy treatment room. Now 41 he started his football career at Edgar Street.

His career started at Hereford United in 1985, but he moved to Cardiff in 1988, then to Birmingham in 1991 and on to Sunderland in 1993. He moved back to Cardiff two years later then back to Hereford in 1997 where he stayed until 2002.

It didn't go well for Dodge at Edgar Street as a young player. Just as he was getting into the youth team, it was scrapped. Not long after he moved to Ninian Park. Dodge remembers Frank Burrows, then managing the Bluebirds, who recruited him to Wales.

"Frank looked like Basil Fawlty and he used to scare the living daylights out of me as a young lad," Dodge told the Western Mail recently.

"When a goal was conceded you had to know exactly where you were on the field because Frank would interrogate you.

"But he was a great man-manager and coach."

Dodge had the chance to play in Europe through Cardiff winning the Welsh Cup.

"It was a great experience to play in Europe," he continued.

"We played Derry City in the first round and got through, but then lost to Danish side Aarhus.

"We had a decent team and I think if we'd had one or two more players we would have gone on and got promotion. The big issue there was money to strengthen the squad."

Birmingham, who were in the Third Division at the time, paid Cardiff £50,000 for Rodgerson in December 1991.

"They were desperate times. St Andrews was a massive stadium, but there was no atmosphere."

Shortly afterwards Lou Macari took over at the club. At that time Dodge was moved from defence to mid-field.

"He really sparked things up and said I was better going forward than backwards."

His next move was to Sunderland but a car crash curtailed his appearances.

"I badly dislocated my shoulder and damaged the nerves. I temporarily lost all feeling in my arm and that was scary.

"I lost confidence after being out for a long time and in the end I was pleased to get back to Cardiff City."

He didn't stay at Cardiff long before moving back to Edgar Street to link up with Graham Turner. Towards the end of his stay he became interested in physiotherapy.

"I had done my initial FA course and Graham Turner was happy for me to help out while I was still playing.

"It was a great experience dealing hands-on with injuries.

"I passed the FA diploma and then did my degree over four years at Salford University."

He left Edgar Street in 2002 and returned to Birmingham on a part-time basis to help with the reserves and under-17 sides. Later he became a full time physio.

"I am responsible for the players aged between nine and 16.

"But we are all together in the treatment room so the Academy lads do their rehab after injuries with first-team players.

"Sometimes the first team physios Neil McDiarmid or Dan Taylor might treat one of the Academy kids and I'll treat one of the first teamers."

Ian Rodgerson made over 250 League appearances for Hereford United. One of his last and possibly best remembered goal for the Bulls was one Tuesday evening at Yeovil in 2001.

This is how it was reported on www.hu-fc.co.uk at the time.

Yeovil Town were robbed of the chance to play in the Football League when Ian Rodgerson's last minute effort meant the Nationwide Conference Championship going to Rushden & Diamonds. The Somerset side needed at least a point to keep their chances of promotion going, but Hereford United were victorious.

In the last minute, Ian Rodgerson hit from close range to deny Yeovil any chance of Football League action next season. Rob Elmes headed goalwards from a free kick initially which was well saved by Pennock, and unmarked Rodgerson was close by to net a rebound past the helpless 'keeper.

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