Dixon: Ditch the rain for the USA!

Town's undisputed number one last season is currently plying his trade in South Carolina after earning a scholarship to study and play at Newberry College after making 44 appearances.

Having arrived from Leeds United in the summer of 2014, he signed off last May by collecting the players’ player of the year trophy at the First Division North club's end of season awards.

Dixon, who is back in England for Christmas and New Year, was a popular figure with everyone at the The 4G Voice & Data Stadium. According to club secretary Neil Spofforth, who interviewed the keeper while he was home, he was especially popular with the young keepers in the club's junior set-up who he often helped train.

Despite admitting that he did take time to settle, Dixon told fans he is loving life majoring in Sports Management and Athletic Training while forging a career as a player and a coach.

He said: "At first it took a while to settle in. The way of life is so different to what I was used to at home and I missed friends and family a lot but now I'm loving the experience!.

"Football is very different over. Even the positions have different names which took a while to get used to, for example full-backs are now outside-backs!

"The standard, however, is very similar to England. People are from all over the world playing on our team but the games are no way as physical."

Urging others players to follow his path, he said: "Just go for it, do it and don't look back! It will be without a doubt the best experience ever. I'm so glad I made the decision to do it. Although Wakefield will always be home, I love it out there!"

* The EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's ground-breaking academy agreed a US link-up with the world’s leading provider of sports scholarships before Christmas to offer its students the chance to study and play in the United States.

Thanks to a new strategic partnership with Soccer Chance USA, specialists in innovative soccer scholarships for UK students and the UK arm of Global Premier Soccer, any NPLFA students who get the chance next season could also be linking up with Bayern Munich as they are the official partners of the German giants in North America.

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