Paul Dixon (footballer, born 1960)

Paul Kenneth Dixon (born 22 February 1960) is a retired professional footballer who played as a central defender. Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, he joined English club Burnley as a 16-year-old and went on to play 24 Football League matches for the Turf Moor club but missed long periods through injury during his time in England. In 1983, following his release from Burnley, Dixon moved back to Ireland to play for Glentoran.

Dixon played youth football with the Waterside Club in his home town of Londonderry before joining recently relegated English Football League Second Division side Burnley on trial during the summer of 1976. He was subsequently signed as an apprentice by the Lancashire club and after spending two years in the youth team he was offered his first professional contract in June 1978, although he did not make his senior debut until the following season. Although he had played on the right wing when he joined Burnley, Dixon had been converted to a central defender during his time with the club. He started his first competitive match for Burnley on 10 November 1979, lining up alongside Vince Overson for the 1–1 draw with Leicester City away at Filbert Street, although he was later substituted for Billy Rodaway. He went on to play 14 more times in the league, scoring once, forming a regular partnership with Overson in the heart of the defense. However, injury forced him to miss the remainder of the campaign as the team suffered relegation to the Third Division for the first time in their history.

The injury he had suffered caused Dixon to miss almost all of the following season, as he made only two first-team appearances during the 1980–81 campaign. He was used sparingly in the league in 1981–82, making nine appearances in total as the team were crowned champions of the Third Division, although he did play four matches in the FA Cup as Burnley reached the Fourth Round before losing 0–1 to Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow in January 1982. Dixon played his final game for Burnley in the 3–5 home defeat to Southend United on 20 April 1982. He remained at the club for a further year but did not appear for the first team again and was released in the summer of 1983. He subsequently returned to Northern Ireland, signing for Belfast-based club Glentoran, where he ended his playing career.