DYER’S GONE A FULL CIRCLE
FOOTBALL has taken Alex Dyer around the world, but the 32-yearold is delighted to bring his pearls of wisdom back to Wealdstone.
His first spell at the club started a decade earlier and relaunched his career after being released by Northampton Town as a teenager. Dropping into Non-League humbled him.
“When I look back now, I was arrogant. I thought I’d easily find another team,” admits Dyer. “It took me a while to adjust. Once I stopped feeling sorry for myself, and feeling entitled, that’s when I grew up and realised I’d got to start from scratch. It was a good reality check.”
Joining Wealdstone, who were then in the Isthmian League Premier Division, was a shock to the system. Dyer had to leave his ego at the door and embrace a more challenging environment. Regular game time improved him.
“My first spell in NonLeague was amazing,” says the midfielder. “It allowed me to play first-Team football every single week and learn the competitive edge of needing to win. I was able to find myself as a player and gain confidence and match experience. Nothing can replicate that.”
Vision
Dyer was also studying for a degree in accountancy and played for Great Britain at the World University Games in Russia, claiming a silver medal. The team’s coach, James Ellis, was friends with Graham Potter, then in charge of little-known Swedish side Östersunds, and put them in touch.
“We spoke a lot about how they wanted to play. He sold me the vision of what they were trying to achieve. I felt like I’d earned it because I’d really dedicated myself to the craft. It came out of nowhere, but life and football are a bit like that. When you do the right things for long enough, opportunities fall your way,” says Dyer.
He took the risk to further his career and it paid off handsomely. Östersunds won promotion to the country’s top division, Allsvenskan, and established themselves at that level. Dyer was the club’s captain and enjoyed a close relationship with Potter, whose empathetic managerial style stood out. “He treated you as a human being first and a player second. If you’re brave and expose yourself to new ideas, then he’s happy and proud of you. In England, it could be win at all costs. If you don’t play well, you get shouted at. It was almost like results were all that mattered.”
Potter created a supportive culture that reaped rewards. Dyer remains in touch with his former manager and is proud of what he’s achieved since returning to the UK.
Playing in Sweden suited Dyer. Games were slower and more tactical, enabling his technical ability and awareness to shine. He became a leader, taking more responsibility on and off the pitch. Once his Scandinavian adventure came to an end, he took another leap into the unknown by signing for Kuwaiti side Al Tadhamon.
“It was something completely different and financially it was a good package,” he says. “It let me go somewhere I probably never would have in normal life. I loved my time there, but they shut their borders around Covid and I didn’t want to get stuck.”
Heritage
Travel restrictions and general uncertainty left Dyer assessing options closer to home. Having started a property development company, he was planning to settle back in London so a return to Grosvenor Vale made sense. It’s worked out well as Wealdstone continue to defy the odds.
“I don’t think people understand what it takes to be a part-time team with a low budget in this league,” says the former Welling man. “What we’re doing is nothing short of incredible.
“If we play the big teams at their game, they’re going to be better than us. We’ve created a different style that allows us to bridge that gap. There’s a culture of improvement. We’ve got confidence in the group and it’s fun to be part of.”
Dyer sees similarities with his international team. Montserrat have come a long way since he first represented them in 2011. They have the same togetherness, underdog spirit and desire to improve, which has carried the tiny Caribbean island up the world rankings, while helping the squad reconnect with the local population and their family heritage.
“As I’ve got older and more mature, that affinity has naturally grown,” he says. “I just look at where we’ve come from and it’s a source of immense pride for me. The results have followed that. When you go there, it becomes more than football. You’re playing for a bigger cause.”