36 Facts About Dixie Dean

William Ralph "Dixie" Dean was an English footballer who played as a centre forward.

Dixie Dean is regarded as one of the greatest centre forwards of all time and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Dixie 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 eventually Sligo Rovers.

Dixie Dean was born at 313 Laird Street in Birkenhead, Cheshire, across the River Mersey from Liverpool.

Dixie Dean falsely told fellow pupils he had been caught stealing, since he wanted to be "one of the boys".

Dixie Dean left school at fourteen and worked for Wirral Railway as an apprentice fitter; his father worked there and had been working since he was eleven years old for Great Western Railway.

The elder Dixie Dean later became a train driver before moving to Birkenhead to work for Wirral Railway, to be closer to his future wife Sarah.

However, Dixie Dean told the club he was not interested in signing and instead played for local team Pensby United in Pensby.

The popular theory regarding how Dixie Dean acquired his nickname is that he did so in his youth, perhaps due to his dark complexion and hair.

Dixie Dean played football for Laird Street School, Moreton Bible Class, Heswall and Pensby United.

Dixie Dean then joined the professional ranks with his local club, Tranmere Rovers in November 1923.

Dixie Dean's exploits attracted the interest of many clubs across England, including Arsenal and Newcastle United.

Dixie Dean was paid one percent of the fee, which he gave to his parents.

Dixie Dean's father had taken him to a league game at Goodison Park when he was eight years old.

Dixie Dean was so excited that he ran the 2.5 miles distance from his home in north Birkenhead to the riverside to meet him.

Dixie Dean signed for Everton in March 1925, having just turned eighteen.

Dixie Dean made his debut away to Arsenal, and scored his first Everton goal later that month, at home to Aston Villa.

Dixie Dean re-joined the first team in October 1926, scoring in his first game back, away to Leeds United.

In December 1933, Dixie Dean issued a public appeal to have stolen goods returned to him.

Dixie Dean went on to play for Notts County for one season, in which he scored three goals in nine games.

At age 32, Dixie Dean signed for Irish club Sligo Rovers in January 1939 to help the club in their FAI Cup campaign.

Dixie Dean played in four Cup matches, scoring once.

Dixie Dean is considered a legend at The Showgrounds and is featured in the club's outdoor museum.

Dixie Dean made his debut for the England national football team against British rivals Wales at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham in February 1927, less than a month after his 20th birthday.

Dixie Dean was involved in the 1927 and 1929 editions of the British Home Championship.

Dixie Dean represented England sixteen times, scoring eighteen goals in nine games.

Dixie Dean became a Freemason in 1931 while playing for Everton and England.

Dixie Dean was initiated in Randle Holme Lodge, No 3261, in Birkenhead on 18 February 1931.

In January 1972, Dixie Dean was admitted to St Catherine's hospital in Birkenhead suffering from the effects of influenza and was released a month later.

Dixie Dean died on 1 March 1980 at age 73, after suffering a heart attack at Everton's home ground Goodison Park, whilst watching a match against their closest rivals, Liverpool.

Dixie Dean's funeral took place at St James' Church on Laird Street in Birkenhead.

Dixie Dean was survived by his four children: William, Geoffrey, Ralph and Barbara; he outlived his wife Ethel, who died of a heart attack in 1974 after 43 years of marriage.

In 2002, Dixie Dean was an inaugural inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame.

Dixie Dean was known as a sporting player, never booked or sent off during his career despite rough treatment and provocation from opponents.

Only Arthur Rowley has scored more English-league career goals; however, while Rowley made 619 appearances and scored 433 goals, Dixie Dean scored 379 goals in 438 games.

In December 1930 and again in October 1931, Dixie Dean became the first Everton player to score two hat-tricks in one month of competitive play.