Source: Northern_Echo
Legendary scout Jack Hixon dies
ALAN Shearer has led the tributes to football scout Jack Hixon who passed away today at the age of 88.[LNB] Hixon gave Shearer his first big break in the game when he spotted the 13-year-old playing for Wallsend Boys Club and recommended him to Southampton for whom he scouted for 20 years.[LNB] Shearer, who remained close to Hixon throughout his illustrious career said today: "It's a very sad day. Jack was a lovely man, very hard working and totally dedicated. We were very close and he will be sadly missed."[LNB] "There will always be footballers to find," Hixon had once noted, and he spent over half a century unearthing North-East talent like Shearer and Michael Bridges who ended up playing for both Newcastle United and Sunderland.[LNB] Hixon spent brief spells working for Sunderland and later, on behalf of then-Magpies manager Bobby Robson.[LNB]
