Dixie Dean story returns to its Wirral roots

Jul 22 2009 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

THE story of Dixie Dean comes home to its Wirral starting point this week.

The hit stage show celebrating the Birkenhead-born striker’s career will be performed at the Floral Pavilion Theatre, New Brighton on Friday.

Dean may have achieved his greatest fame when scoring 60 league goals in a season for Everton in 1927/28.

But he first broke into the professional game with his hometown club Tranmere Rovers, where his 27 goals in 33 games earned him a move across to Goodison Park.

The production, written and narrated by Merseyside-based journalist and author John Keith and produced by Gill Beattie, has already enjoyed success in shows at Crosby and Liverpool University.

For Steve Hazlehurst, the Wirral actor who portrays Dean, the New Brighton performance has a special resonance.

Steve was born in the same Birkenhead North area as Dean, attended the same Laird Street school and played centre-forward in the school team.

Steve is also a regular spectator at Prenton Park, taking his sons to watch Rovers games, although he insists: “I’m a Liverpool fan first and foremost.”

He took on the Dean role after enjoying success in another football-based stage production about the life of Bill Shankly.

He said: “The Dixie Dean connection has been with me since I was a kid.

“I have always been familiar with the story.