Record-holder Dozzell on Dowman and the perils of early fame
A former Ipswich Town player who is the youngest goalscorer in English top-flight football says Arsenal's Max Dowman will be "some player", after he came close to setting a new record. The Gunners' attacking midfielder became the youngest scorer in the history of the Premier League on Saturday when he netted in the last minute against Everton, at the age of just 16 years and 73 days. The youngest player to score in the top flight remains former Tractor Boy Jason Dozzell, who opened his account when he was 16 years and 57 days old.
The midfielder scored his debut goal for Ipswich against Coventry City in a First Division match on 4 February 1984 - eight years before the top division was relaunched as the Premier League. "The record nearly got beaten this week by Max and records are there to be broken," Dozzell told the BBC. "How he took his goal was quite amazing - the balance, the feet, the composure and the strength.
So, I may have the record, but he's going be some player. " Dozzell's own son, Andre, also scored for Ipswich at the age of 16. He was 16 years and 350 days old when he netted an equaliser on his debut away to Sheffield Wednesday in 2016.
"These aren't going to come around very regularly, so I think my record's going to stand for quite a bit from now," Dozzell Snr said. "The record has stood for 40-odd years and, I can't lie to you, it's a record that I'm very proud of - it's the goal I still remember vividly. " Dozzell started his career at Ipswich in 1983 before securing a move to Tottenham Hotspur 10 years later.
He remained at White Hart Lane until 1997, during which time he enjoyed a brief loan spell back at Ipswich, before going on to play for Northampton Town and Colchester United. After his record-breaking goal, Dozzell admits that he "rode the wave" for about a year and half. But despite Dowman's explosive start in an Arsenal shirt and the attention that will bring him, Dozzell believes he will keep his feet on the ground.