The greatest Everton player of all time, a true gentleman and an amazing icon, Dixie Dean is one of the most loved and respected players of the beautiful game.

Arguably one of the most influential goal scorers to ever grace the English game, the Everton hero was known for his incredible skill at scoring goals with his head.

A true gent and fascinating personality, we take a look at some of the best quotes from the legendary Dixie Dean.

The Younger Years

Dixie on how he used to practise heading the ball:

“There was an old chapel in the North end of Birkenhead and I used to kick a ball against the chapel wall, and keep running up and down playing the ball backwards and forwards.

But one of the greatest things was the chapel roof. I chalked the outline of a goal on the chapel wall and then threw the ball onto the roof. I?d wait for it to come down and then I’d move in to head it against the wall between the posts.”

 

“I always had the ambition to play for Everton as a boy. When I was at Laird Street School in Birkenhead, we wore blue jerseys and on the night before a match I would sleep in mine because it meant so much.

I?d dream of playing in Everton blue. It was a dream that came true and I loved every minute.”

One of Dean?s most important moments at Tranmere Rovers was shockingly, losing a testicle due to a tough challenge.

One of Dean?s team-mates rushed to rub the area to comfort the pain, only for Dean to produce one of the greatest quotes to be said on a football pitch.

“Don?t rub ?em, count ?em!”

 

Dixie on Liverpool FC

“There was nothing like quietening that Kop. When you stuck a goal in there it all went quiet, apart from a bit of choice language aimed in your direction!

Scoring there was a delight to me. I just used to turn round to the crowd and bow three times to them. They never liked me doing that.”

 

“Everton have always been noted for going out on the pitch to play football. We got called the school of science quite rightly. The other lot, the Reds, well they were a gang of butchers! They should have been working in an abattoir. McNab, McKinlay, the Wadsworths. God bless my soul. They?d kick an old woman.”

The Friendly Derby

The Merseyside Derby between Liverpool F.C and Everton has always been known as the ‘Friendly Derby’ because of the real respect the teams have for each other.

?There?s no such thing as flying bottles and fights with rivals because all these people, the Evertonians and the Liverpudlians, are related. You?ll find half of one family follow Liverpool and the other half Everton.”

Later in Life

After Dixie had retired, he was constantly asked about whether he thought his amazing 60 goal record would be broken.

?People ask me if that 60-goal record will ever be beaten. I think it will. But there?s only one man who?ll do it. That?s that feller who walks on the water. I think he?s about the only one.”

Dixie on George Best’s escalating players’ earnings:

“When I was playing I couldn’t afford a pair of boots never mind boutiques”

 

In 2001, a sculpture of the club?s greatest striker was displayed outside of Goodison Park carrying a 3-worded inscription that perfectly suits the English striker:

?Footballer, Gentleman, Evertonian?

We hope you’ve enjoyed our best Dixie Dean quotes and look forward to seeing you at our hotel, a tribute to the Evertonian legend.?