Hi Everyone
Whilst on a goalkeeping tutor course Robbie caught up with fellow goalkeeping coach, legend Eric Nixon. Robbie has known Nico for 3 years now having met Nico in
"it was great catching up with Nico he is a great guy, who shares all his knowledge of the game with others. With over 500 professional games under his belt that's a lot of experience. & likes telling a good joke!!!
Nico has written a book, an-autobiogarthy called Big Hands Big Heart. It's a great read for anyone or a goalkeeper who wants to make it in the professional game. The highs & lows of Nico's goalkeeping career in a book it's great stuff!!
Born in Manchester , Nixon began his career in August 1982 atNon-League club Curzon Ashton from Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester. On 10 December 1983, he signed for Manchester City Bradford City
Nixon'sfinal loan move while at Manchester City
Nixonsigned for Tranmere Rovers permanently for a fee of £60,000 on 26 July 1988. Innine years at Prenton Park Nixon made 432 appearances, including 333 leagueappearances, and was with the club during their rise from the Fourth Divisionto the First Division play-offs in 1992–93. In the 1988–89 season he kept 25clean sheets, which still stands as a club record for the most clean sheets ina season.
He wasalso a part of the Tranmere team that won the Leyland DAF Cup in 1989–90,beating Bristol Rovers 2–1 in the final at Wembley with goals by forwards IanMuir and Jim Steel. In 1996, towards the end of his time at Tranmere, Nixonfound himself again being sent out on loan three times. In January he joined Reading ; the following month he was loaned to Blackpool,for whom he made 20 league appearances; and in September he spent a second loanspell at Bradford City
On 27August 1997, Nixon was signed by Stockport County Edgeley Park Wigan wasshort-lived, and on 4 July he was back at Tranmere Rovers for a third time, onanother free transfer, where he stayed for a further four years, becoming a part-timegoalkeeping coach. After focussing on coaching rather than playing, Nixon spentone short loan spell at Kidderminster Harriers in October 2001, for whom he kept three clean sheets in threegames. On his return, he signed non-contract terms with Tranmere. On 8 August2002, he again signed as a non-contract player with the club to provide coverfor Keith Welch, who Tranmere had just signed.
The2002–03 season was his testimonial season and his testimonial match was playedat Prenton Park on 6 August against the club he supported as a youngster, and for whom he firstplayed professionally — Manchester City
When heplayed in goal against Crewe Alexandra on 21 September 2002, Nixon, at 39 yearsand 352 days old, became the oldest player to ever play for the club.
Nixon'sfinal club was Sheffield Wednesday, for whom he signed on a free transfer on 1July 2003, and where he was used as a goalkeeping coach, aking one leagueappearance — on 27 September 2003 against Grimsby Town
Coaching
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| Eric & Robbie |
While hewas still playing, Nixon had started working towards gaining his goalkeepingcoach licence, and in August 2004 he became a full-time goalkeeping coach withTranmere Rovers.
Nixon nowholds both a UEFA goalkeeping coaching A license and a UEFA football coaching Alicence. On 10 February 2006, Nixon gave up his coaching responsibilities withTranmere Rovers because of knee problems and also to attend a personal-fitnesscoaching course before opening a health and fitness studio in Prenton, eforemoving to Dubai
On 5February 2007, Nixon was honoured for his outstanding service to TranmereRovers as the winner of the Dave Russell Award at the annual Sports PersonalityAwards in Liverpool .
Nixon hasalso written a regular column for the Liverpool Echo newspaper.
InOctober 2008, Nixon was appointed goalkeeping coach at Conference North club Fleetwood Town Blackpool in 1996. He left the club in May 2011 by mutualconsent. Eric now works at Woodchurch School's Leisure Centre.
BTS
