Dion Dublin, the former Aston Villa and England striker, experienced a poignant moment at Villa Park on Saturday as he received his England legacy cap and paid tribute to his late father. The Football Association (FA) presents these red, velvet caps to honor every player's place in England's football history, assigning them a unique number based on their debut for the national team, dating back to 1872. Dublin is #731.
Dublin, who played 192 games for Aston Villa and scored 56 goals, also earned four caps for England during his career. The presentation occurred before England's 2-0 victory over Andorra in a World Cup qualifying match.
In an emotional interview with ITV, Dublin dedicated the cap to his father, who passed away recently. "Dad, this is for you," he said, his voice filled with emotion. He added that his father would have been incredibly proud and would have driven him to the stadium, just as he had for most of his trials. "Lost him on Monday and it has been a tough week,” Dublin shared.
Dublin had earlier shared the sad news of his father's passing on social media, posting a photo of them together with a heartfelt message. The message read: “A fearless heart, our guiding light, A leader strong, both day and night. With bass in hand and Vodka near Your love and strength remain so clear! Gone,but NEVER forgotten! Rest In Peace Dad!”.
Dion Dublin was born on April 22, 1969 and is the youngest of five siblings, including older sister Carmen and brothers Eddie, Clem, and Ash.
Dublin's career saw him play for several prominent clubs, including Manchester United, Coventry City, and Aston Villa. He also had spells with Cambridge United, Barnet, Millwall, Leicester City, Celtic, and Norwich City. Despite a successful season in 1997-98, where he was the Premier League's joint top scorer, he was controversially excluded from England's World Cup squad in 1998. In November 1998, he moved to Aston Villa for £5.75 million and made an immediate impact, scoring seven goals in his first four games, including a hat-trick against Southampton.
Dublin's versatility as a player was also notable. In a match against Sheffield Wednesday in December 1999, he broke his neck, an injury that threatened his career. However, he recovered and even scored the winning penalty for Villa in the 2000 FA Cup semi-final against Bolton Wanderers.
Beyond his footballing achievements, Dublin has transitioned into the entertainment industry, working as a television presenter and pundit. He is also a club director of Cambridge United.
