Dixie Dean

William Ralph Dean (22 January 1907 – 1 March 1980), better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to professional team Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football history. Dean played the majority of his career at Everton before injuries caught up with him and he moved on to new challenges at Notts County and Ireland's Sligo Rovers. He is best known for his exploits in 1927-28 season which saw Dean score 60 league goals - a record which stands to this day.

A statue of Dean was unveiled outside Goodison Park in May 2001. A year later Dean became one of four players inducted into the inaugural national football hall of fame.

He was the first football player to wear the "number 9" shirt in club football. Dean is regarded as one of the greatest pre-war sports heroes in British culture.

Early years

Dean was born at 325 Laird Street in Birkenhead, Cheshire a major town on the Wirral Peninsula. It is on the opposite side of the River Mersey to Liverpool. Dean's family on both his mother and father's side hailed from Chester. He was the grandson of Ralph Brett, a train driver who drove the royal train during the reign of George V. Dean grew up as a supporter of Everton thanks to the efforts of his father, William Sr who once took him during the 1914-1915 title winning season.

Dean's childhood...
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