His talent as a coach was first spotted by Northern Ireland’s greatest ever goalscorer. And when he ever needs advice, he’s got Brendan Rodgers’ number on speed dial.
So in terms of his aspirations to become a top manager, Stephen Dobbie is off to a pretty decent start. When the Scot decided to hang up his boots in May he already knew he wanted to be a gaffer. On a training pitch in Fleetwood one day, legendary former striker David Healy sparked something in him. And the fire has been burning ever since.
Dobbie is Under-23s coach at Blackpool, a club that have become close to his heart. In Scotland he’s synonymous with Queen of the South, where he spent seven years of his career, scored a barrel-load of goals and became a Doonhamers cult hero. But incredibly the former Swansea and Crystal Palace striker had THREE loan spells at Bloomfield Road.
He played in two Championship play-off finals for the Tangerines at Wembley, winning promotion to the Premier League in 2010. So he feels at home in Lancashire.
That’s why when Mick McCarthy was sacked as Blackpool’s boss last season and Dobbie was asked to take charge, he didn’t flinch. Despite his best efforts, winning three of his six games, the damage had already been done and they were
relegated to League One.
Dobbie impressed everyone with his work. In that short stint he brought a bit of excitement back to Bloomfield with the team’s attacking style of play. And during that time he got the managerial bug. The buzz of being in the dugout with everything resting on his shoulders.
The chance to use what he learned from Rodgers as a player. To remember how Ian Holloway inspired him. And to prove that Healy was right to sign him up to his coaching badges.
Now Dobbie wants more. He’s back to being Under-23s coach under new gaffer Neil Critchley – for now.
But the former frontman, who also played for Rangers, Hibs, Dumbarton, St Johnstone, Brighton, Fleetwood and Bolton, has big ambitions.
He told MailSport: “It was amazing to be given that opportunity last season at Blackpool.
“I started to coach with the reserves at Queen of the South. On my days off I would take time to learn about the other side of the game. So to build that up to the moment I was standing in a dugout in front of 15,000 fans at Bloomfield was
pretty special.
“When I got the call I had my own ideas how to approach it. You need to take these challenges head on. I didn’t feel pressure. It was more excitement.
“The Under-23 games can be in front of 50 or 100 folk on a Tuesday afternoon. To then, all of sudden, have 15,000 watching you is a big change. Obviously it didn’t end the way we wanted it to but I still look back with great pride.
“We won three of our six games. And I’m convinced if we had a bit longer it would have been different. It was a reassurance that I can do the job and get to where I want to go.
“I have aspirations of going as high as I can in management. I definitely got the bug. And now I want to go as far as I can.”
With the technical ability and scoring prowess Dobbie had as a player, it might have seemed natural to become a coach. His passion for it was ignited by Healy who is now gaffer at Linfield.
But working under the likes of Rodgers at Swansea and Holloway at Blackpool had set the seed of an idea years previously. Dobbie said: “When I was at Fleetwood on loan, David was the striker coach at the time.
“He said to me one day: ‘I think you should go and do your badges, you’d be really good at it.’ That was pleasing coming from someone who had achieved so much in the game.
“He obviously saw something in me on the training pitch when I was trying to help players lower down the English leagues. So I ended up doing my coaching badges in Northern Ireland, David sorted it all out for me.
“I’m so glad he got me into it. But under Brendan I was always listening and learning as a player.
“If I liked a training session I’d jot it down in a scribble. That was just to remind myself that I quite liked it as an attacking player.
“Brendan’s been great with me. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago when I was looking at different things.
“To have someone like him on the end of a phone is invaluable. He’ll always call me back.
“He’s a brilliant guy and a top coach – probably the main one I learned from as a player. Ian (Holloway) was also fantastic for me too, in terms of how he inspired players. That’s a major thing I took from him.”
Dobbie now has to be patient for his next opportunity. But when it comes he’ll be even better prepared for it.
He said: “I wouldn’t say it’s hard going back to the Under-23s. But when you’re the main guy, trying to get a win, it’s different.
“I’m open to everything now. I’m trying to add another few qualifications to my CV.
“After being relegated there might be more of an opportunity for the younger players to break into Blackpool’s first-team. I want to get one or two through – that’s the challenge for me this year.
“But if and when the right opportunity comes up for me, I’ll make sure I’m ready for it.”
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