Soldier who overcame horrors of war thanks to football immortalised by sandwich shop

By Matthew Hancock-Bruce 8th Apr 2025

Lazy Joe's' owner Nicky Winder and Bob Trafford with the new display (Credit: Lazy Joe's)
Lazy Joe's' owner Nicky Winder and Bob Trafford with the new display (Credit: Lazy Joe's)

A sandwich shop has immortalised the story of a Macclesfield war hero.

At the launch of the Silk Museum's Macclesfield Town FC exhibition last year, the club's commercial manager Bob Trafford spoke of his grandfather, Tommy Dixon.

Tommy was a painter-turned-soldier who helped to liberate the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the Second World War.

Upon his return home to Macclesfield, Tommy was reluctant to speak of the horrors he had witnessed.

Instead, he threw himself into Macclesfield Town, becoming one of the club's first shareholders in 1946.

Now, 'Tommy's Story' has found a home at Lazy Joe's, who have had Bob's words printed and installed on their building.

The sandwich shop's owner, Nicky Winder, said: "It's a great pleasure to be able to document, print and display this amazing story that captures a moment in time of what supporting your local football club means to local people and in particular, this personal story from Bob Trafford.

"I attended the launch event for the Macclesfield Town FC exhibition at the Silk Museum and I wasn't the only one to comment on how lovely this story, that Bob shared on the night, was."

Lazy Joe's on London Road (Credit: Lazy Joe's)

Nicky added: "It's an unofficial extension of the Silk Museum's exhibition.

"We are delighted that we can exhibit this lovely story for all to read as it will resonate with so many fans of Macclesfield Town FC and the reformed Macclesfield FC fans too.

"It's wonderful."

The piece went on display ahead of the Silkmen's game on Saturday (April 5) – a 3-2 win over Workington AFC thanks to a last-gasp strike from John Rooney.

Head over to Lazy Joe's, located a stone's throw from the Leasing.com Stadium at 157 London Road, to read Tommy's Story for yourself.

     

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