Dodgin was born in Wardley, Gateshead, and is the son of footballer Bill Dodgin, Sr. He began his career as an amateur, before signing for Southampton, whom his father managed.
Wardley started off as a stage manager at Windsor's Theatre Royal then moved on to the film industry, including creating the special effects for five of the James Bond movies.
The Leamside Line (originally part of the Durham Junction Railway) is a railway line in the North East of England, branching off from the main East Coast Main Line (ECML) at Tursdale in County Durham, and continuing north through Washington and Wardley, finally joining the Newcastle upon Tyne to Sunderland line at Pelaw.