Tributes have been paid to Mike Dickson, the Daily Mail’s long-serving tennis correspondent, who has died at the age of 59.
Dickson, an Everton fan who grew up on the Wirral, joined the Mail in 1990 after cutting his teeth at the Chester Chronicle following his graduation from the National Council for the Training of Journalists at the former South Glamorgan Institute.
He initally joined the national as a cricket correspondent before switching to tennis in 2007, and covered at least 30 different sports across nearly 50 countries during his rich career. Dickson was in Melbourne covering the Australian Open when he passed away.
Dickson’s wife Lucy announced the news on Twitter in a message that read: “We are devastated to announce that our wonderful husband and Dad, Mike, has collapsed and died while in Melbourne for the Aus Open.
“For 38 years he lived his dream covering sport all over the world. He was a truly great man and we will miss him terribly. Lucy, Sam, Ruby and Joe.”
We are devastated to announce that our wonderful husband and Dad, Mike, has collapsed and died while in Melbourne for the Aus Open. For 38 years he lived his dream covering sport all over the world. He was a truly great man and we will miss him terribly. Lucy, Sam, Ruby and Joe.
— Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) January 17, 2024
Tributes soon followed from the worlds of journalism and sport alike:
We’re deeply saddened to tell you that Mike Dickson has passed away at the age of 59.
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) January 17, 2024
Dicko was a magnificent tennis correspondent and an outstanding colleague: talented, kind and knowledgeable.
Much more than that, he was a brilliant bloke, a class act.
It was a privilege to… pic.twitter.com/IxFi3IcCuo
The SJA sends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mike Dickson. He was much loved and respected in the industry, spending 33 years with @MailSport, including spells as cricket correspondent and then tennis. Mike will be greatly missed.https://t.co/zRgahkwjQX https://t.co/KnRmWKRF1m
— Sports Journalists (@SportSJA) January 17, 2024
Such sad news. Everyone at Everton send our condolences to Mike’s family. He was a great man who achieved a lot in his career. RIP Mike. 💙
— Everton (@Everton) January 17, 2024
I am so sorry to hear that- Mike Dickson was a standup guy and a pleasure to work with- he will be missed in our tennis world- RIP Mike… https://t.co/hGSFnD20AJ
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) January 17, 2024