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William Ralph Dean (January 22, 1907-March 1,
1980), popularly known as Dixie Dean, was an
England|English football (soccer)|football player,
one of the most prolific centre forwards  in
Football in England|English football history, who
is best known for his exploits at Everton
F.C.|Everton.

Born in Birkenhead, Merseyside, Dean initially
played for his local club, Tranmere Rovers, before
moving to Everton for a fee of £3,000 in 1925,
and immediately made an impact, scoring 32 goals
in his first full season.

Despite a serious motorcycle accident in 1926,
where he suffered a fractured skull and jaw, Dean
fully recovered and went on to greater success at
the club. He is still the only player in English
football to have scored 60 League goals in one
season (1927/1928|28); in the same season Everton
won the Football League First Division|Division
One title. Although Everton were relegated to
Football League Second Division|Division Two in
1930, Dean stayed with them, and the club
subsequently won the Second Division in 1931,
followed by the First Division again in 1932, and
the FA Cup in 1933.

By then, Dean was captain of the side. However,
the harsh physical demands of the game took their
toll, and he was dropped from the first team in
1937. Dean went on to play for Notts County
F.C.|Notts County and then Sligo Rovers FC|Sligo
Rovers in Ireland. After retiring, he went on to
run a public house|pub and work as a security
manager for Littlewoods.

In total, Dean scored a total of 383 goals for
Everton, in 433 appearances, an exceptional
strike-rate. With modern scoring rates being much
lower, both that record, and the record of 60
League goals in a season, are unlikely to ever be
broken. Only Arthur Rowley has scored more English
league career goals.  In addition, he was never
booked or sent off throughout his entire career.

He also made 16 appearances for England national
football team|England, scoring 18 goals. 

His nickname "Dixie" is said to have been given to
him by fans due to his dark complexion and curly
black hair, which was, in their perception,
similar to that of African-Americans in the
Southern United States. Dean himself deeply
disliked the moniker, preferring to be known as
Bill.

Dean died in 1980 at Goodison Park, Everton's home
ground, whilst watching a match against their
closest rivals, Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool. In 2001,
a statue of Dean was erected outside the Park End
of the stadium.

==External links==
*http://www.evertonfc.com/history/index.php?page_i
d=490 Biography on Everton website
*http://www.bluekipper.com/dixie/legend.htm A
fan's personal tribute
*http://www.11v11.co.uk/index.php?pageID=286&id=50
Association of Football Statisticians article