 Despite being a Sheffield Wednesday fan at school, Dickins began his career as a 19-year-old trainee with Sheffield United.After three years at Bramall Lane with no first-team appearances to his name, he signed for Lincoln City.Despite only making 27 league starts for the Imps, Kenny Dalglish, then manager of Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, saw his promise and signed him as cover for Bobby Mimms for a £250,000 fee in March 1992.