Rob Dickie’s QPR impression of Bristol City as he pays tribute to Torquay United boss

Rob Dickie has admitted he was impressed by Bristol City when he was an opposition player against them last season.

The 27-year-old was the Robins’ first signing of the summer transfer window, joining from Championship rivals QPR. Dickie’s last came for the Hoops came against the Robins in a 2-0 defeat at Loftus Road.

His previous opponents are now his teammates, and from that experience of playing against the likes of Mark Sykes and Sam Bell, he knew his move to Ashton Gate would represent a good fit.

He said: “When I played against Bristol City last year, I saw it as a team I could really fit well in.

“They played some really nice stuff, and I like to have my input on the game. Be in possession, start attacks, find passes but also defensively organise and really make sure we’re nice and solid.

He added: “I think there was some initial interest before and as soon as they wanted me, I said to my agent this sounds great to me.

“I was really impressed with Bristol City when we played against them at the end of the season. It was a bit of a no-brainer for me to come here.

“It takes more than one man to do but I will definitely try my best on my side of things.”

Dickie’s move to the West Country, sees him reunite with several people from his time at previous clubs. He played alongside Mark Sykes 45 times for Oxford United, whilst Rob Atkinson was also on the books at the Kassam Stadium, but did not play together.

By his own admission, he owes a lot to a Bristol City legend, Gary Johnson, for helping with his career development. Dickie joined Cheltenham Town in the National League in 2015 in what was his first professional loan away from Reading, and he ended up winning promotion with the Robins, before returning for their first season back in League Two. He went on to turn out for Oxford United as he worked his way up the football ladder, and for the past three seasons has been a centre-back in the second tier of English football.

"That experience is the one I draw on most weeks," he said. It wasn’t my first loan move to men’s football but it was my first full-time loan move. It was when I moved to Cheltenham and was thrown into a men’s dressing room. Believe me, there were some big characters in that side which really helped me come along as a man.

"Gary, I’m always forever thankful to him. My experience with him was great. He didn’t have to do what he did, he really trusted me as a young player. He brought me in and he trusted me to do my stuff on the pitch. He gave me the freedom to do what I saw and what I felt was right with his guidance.

"He was tough on me, I believe every young player needs that experience. He was great, he’s one of the characters in football I believe every player should experience, he really brought on me on as a man and secondly as a footballer."