Dixie Dean

English footballer (1907–1980)

Dixie Dean (born William Ralph Dean, 22 January 1907 – 1 March 1980) was an English football player. He played for Everton F.C. during the 1920s and 30s.

Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean as a teenager in 1925
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Ralph Dean
Date of birth(1907-01-22)22 January 1907[1]
Place of birthBirkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK
Date of death1 March 1980(1980-03-01) (aged 73)
Place of deathGoodison Park, Liverpool, England, UK
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)Centre forward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1923–1925Tranmere Rovers30(27)
1925–1937Everton399(349)
1938–1939Notts County9(3)
1939Sligo Rovers7(10)
1940Hurst2(1)
Total447(390)
National team
1927–1932England16(18)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He scored more goals than any other player in English football history.[2]

Dean was born in Birkenhead in Merseyside. He began his career at his hometown club Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton. He was particularly known for scoring goals with his head. Dean played most of his career at Everton. When injuries caught up with him, he moved on to Notts County.

Dean is best known for scoring 60 goals in the 1927–28 First Division season. He also scored 18 goals in 16 appearances for England.

A statue of Dean was unveiled outside Goodison Park in 2001. A year later, he became one of the first 22 players inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. Dean was the first Everton player to wear the number 9 shirt, and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.[3][4]

Honours and achievements

Everton

Sligo Rovers

England

  • British Home Championship: 1926–27 (shared), 1931–32 (shared)[5]

Individual[6]

  • England Caps: 16
  • England Goals: 18
  • Football League Representative appearances: 6
  • Football League Representative goals: 9
  • Sunday Pictorial Trophy (60 league goals in 1927–28)
  • Lewis's Medal (Commemorate 200 league goals in 199 appearances)
  • Hall of Fame Trophy (1971)[7]
  • Football Writers' Association inscribed silver salver (1976)
  • English Football Hall of Fame (Inaugural inductee, 2002)[8]
  • Most goals in an English top-flight season: 60 (1927–28)
  • Seasonwise World Top Scorer: 1927–28 (60 goals)[9]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[10][11][12]
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupCharity ShieldTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tranmere Rovers1923–24Third Division30000030
1924–25Third Division272730003027
Total302730003327
Everton1924–25First Division72000072
1925–26First Division383221004033
1926–27First Division272143003124
1927–28First Division396023004163
1928–29First Division292610123128
1929–30First Division252322002725
1930–31Second Division373959004248
1931–32First Division384511003946
1932–33First Division392465144633
1933–34First Division1290000129
1934–35First Division382651004327
1935–36First Division291700002917
1936–37First Division362443004027
1937–38First Division51000051
Total399349322826433383
Notts County1937–38Third Division30000030
1938–39Third Division63000063
Total93000093
Sligo Rovers1938–39League of Ireland7[11]104[source?]10011[source?]11
Total71041001111
Hurst[11]1939–40Cheshire County League21000021
Total21000021
Career total447390392926488425

International goals

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dean goal.
List of international goals scored by Dixie Dean
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.
112 February 1927Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales  Wales1–03–31926–27 Home Championship[13][14]
23–3
32 April 1927Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland  Scotland1–12–1[15]
42–1
511 May 1927Molenbeek, Belgium  Belgium5–09–1International Friendly[16]
66–0
79–0
821 May 1927Stade de la Frontière, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg  Luxembourg1–25–2[17]
93–2
104–2
1126 May 1927Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France  France2–06–0[18]
125–0
1317 May 1928Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France  France3–15–1[19]
144–1
1519 May 1928Olympisch Stadion, Antwerp, Belgium  Belgium1–13–1[20]
162–1
1722 October 1928Goodison Park, Liverpool, England  Ireland2–12–11928–29 Home Championship[21][22]
189 December 1931Arsenal Stadium, London, England  Spain5–07–1International Friendly[23]

References