Dixie Deans

Last updated

Dixie Deans
Personal information
Full name John Kelly Deans [1]
Date of birth (1946-07-30) 30 July 1946 (age 76)
Place of birth Johnstone, Scotland
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Centre forward
Youth career
Neilston Juniors
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1965 Albion Rovers (trialist) 1 (0)
1965–1971 Motherwell 152 (78)
1971–1976 Celtic 126 (89)
1976–1977 Luton Town 14 (6)
1977 → Carlisle United (loan) 4 (2)
1977 → Partick Thistle (loan) 6 (2)
1977–1980 Adelaide City 57 (30)
Total360(207)
International career
1974 Scotland 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Kelly "Dixie" Deans (born 30 July 1946) [2] is a Scottish retired footballer. He played as a centre forward in the 1960s and 1970s, primarily for Motherwell and Celtic, and was a prolific goal-scorer. Deans played in two international matches for Scotland, both in 1974. He was nicknamed "Dixie" in honour of legendary Everton and England centre-forward Dixie Dean.

Contents

Club career

Deans joined Motherwell from Neilston Juniors in 1965 and spent six seasons with the Fir Park side. [3] He signed for Celtic in a £17,500 deal on 31 October 1971 but was unable to play for Celtic immediately as he was, at the time, serving a six-match ban; during this period he spent his free time working in the Paisley office of the Evening Times .

He played for Celtic until 1976, and during this time he scored 125 goals in 186 games, [4] and set several scoring records. The six goals he struck in a defeat of Partick Thistle in the 1973–74 season is a post-war record for a single game; Thistle's goalkeeper was the Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough. He is the only player in Scottish football history to twice score a hat trick in a major cup final, achieving the feat in the 1972 Scottish Cup Final and the 1974 Scottish League Cup Final, both against Hibernian. [5]

He is also remembered for the part he played in the semi-final of the 1971–72 European Cup, when Celtic were paired with Inter Milan, whom they had beaten in the final five years earlier. The two legs and extra-time failed to yield a single goal and so the tie proceeded to penalties. Deans, who had come on as a substitute, took the first kick for Celtic and missed. Inter then scored all five of their penalties and moved on to the final against Ajax.

In 1976, Deans was transferred to Luton Town in a £20,000 deal. He spent a month on loan to Carlisle United in 1977 and played briefly with League of Ireland side Shelbourne (5 league games, no goals) before moving to Australia to play for Adelaide City. [3] He is still a hero to the Adelaide fans for his goal-scoring abilities when he was the leading scorer in Australia in 1977/78.[ citation needed ] With the club he also won the Australian Cup of 1979, defeating St. George in the final 3–2. He returned to Scotland with Partick Thistle in 1980, where he retired. [3]

International career

Deans earned two caps for Scotland, both in 1974. [6] He was left out of the Scotland squad for the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. He had made the initial 40 man squad, but missed the final cut of 22, as Donald Ford and Denis Law were selected instead. Deans was eventually capped in October 1974, in a 3–0 win against East Germany, and a month later won a second cap in a 2–1 defeat against Spain. [6]

Retirement

In his autobiography There's Only One Dixie Deans, he claimed that whilst living in Australia, he met Bob Marley, who asked him, "Are you the Dixie Deans who used to play for Celtic?", and mentioned that he envied Deans for having played at Celtic Park. [7] Deans is now a match-day host at Celtic Park, where he entertains guests along with other former Celtic players. He is also involved with business interests in Glasgow, owning "Dixie's" pub in Rutherglen, and was involved with former Celtic player Tommy Callaghan in the firm Esperanza Property Development.

Honours

Motherwell

Celtic

Adelaide City

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Kilbride Thistle F.C.</span> Association football club in Scotland

East Kilbride Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the town of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire near Glasgow. Nicknamed The Jags, they were formed in 1968 and play at the Showpark, situated in the Village area of the town. Currently playing in the West of Scotland League Fourth Division. They wear all black; their change strips are all red, or white tops with red or black shorts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Forsyth (footballer, born 1952)</span> Scottish footballer

Alexander Forsyth is a Scottish former footballer who played as a right-back. Born in Swinton, Lanarkshire, he played for Partick Thistle, Manchester United, Rangers, Motherwell, Hamilton Academical, Queen of the South and Blantyre Victoria.

Stephen James Craigan is a Northern Irish former professional footballer. He played in central defence, and spent his entire playing career in Scotland, playing for Motherwell (twice) and Partick Thistle. He has also played for the Northern Irish national team. He is currently a studio pundit for BT Sport's coverage of the SPFL and the Scottish League Cup.

Thomas Stephen Chalmers was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre-forward and spent the majority of his career with Celtic. He is the club's fifth-highest goalscorer with 236 goals and is considered one of their greatest players. He is particularly known for scoring the winning goal in the 1967 European Cup Final against Inter Milan. Chalmers later played for Morton and Partick Thistle. He also represented Scotland five times in international matches.

Robert Auld was a Scottish football player and manager. He was a member of Celtic's Lisbon Lions, who won the 1967 European Cup Final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy McMenemy</span> Scottish footballer

James McMenamin, was a Scottish footballer who most notably played for Celtic from 1902 to 1920 and later served as assistant manager in the 1930s. He has been described by the club as "a true Celtic legend".

Joseph Montgomery Harper is a Scottish former footballer, mainly remembered for his two spells with Aberdeen, during which he won the three main domestic trophies once each and became the club's record goalscorer with 199 goals in major competitions. He also played for Morton and Hibernian in Scotland, and for Huddersfield Town and Everton in England. He finished his career in the Highland League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Donnelly</span> Scottish footballer (born 1974)

Simon Thomas Donnelly is a Scottish professional football player and coach. Donnelly played as a forward or wide midfielder for Queen's Park, Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, St Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Partick Thistle and Scotland.

James Dolan was a Scottish professional footballer, who played for Motherwell, Dundee United, Dunfermline Athletic, Livingston, Forfar Athletic and Partick Thistle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kallum Higginbotham</span> English footballer (born 1989)

Kallum Michael Higginbotham is an English footballer who used to play as a winger for Tranent Juniors. He can also play as a striker.

Colin McAdam was a Scottish professional football player, best known for his time with Rangers. He played as both a centre back and a striker during his career.

Steven Saunders is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a defender for Motherwell, Ross County, Dumbarton, The New Saints, Livingston and Partick Thistle at club level, and also represented Scotland once.

Paul Wilson was an Indian-born Scottish professional footballer, who played for Celtic, Motherwell and Partick Thistle. His football career peaked in season 1974–75 after being moved to play as a striker when he scored 29 goals for Celtic, including two in that season's Scottish Cup final win. He played for Scotland that season, making him the only non-white player to represent the full Scotland team in the 20th century, and the first footballer with Asian origins to represent any of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland at senior level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen O'Donnell (footballer, born 1992)</span> Scottish association football player

Stephen Gerard O'Donnell is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Motherwell and the Scotland national team. He has previously played for Partick Thistle, Luton Town and Kilmarnock, and was capped once by the Scotland under-21 team in 2013.

Denis Connaghan is a Scottish former football goalkeeper, who played for Celtic, St Mirren, Morton and Clyde.

John McMenemy was a Scottish footballer, who played for Celtic, Motherwell, Partick Thistle, St Mirren and Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blair Spittal</span> Scottish footballer

Blair Thomas Spittal is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Motherwell. He has previously played for Queen's Park, Dundee United, Partick Thistle and Ross County.

The 2014–15 season was Partick Thistle's second consecutive season in the Scottish Premiership and their second season back in the top-flight of Scottish football, having been promoted from the First Division at the end of the 2012–13 season. Thistle also competed in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Shea Martin Gordon is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for NIFL Premiership side Larne. He has previously played for Sheffield United, Motherwell, Stalybridge Celtic, Partick Thistle and Queen of the South.

William Sharp was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward. His only professional club was Partick Thistle, and he holds the club's all-time goalscoring record.

References

  1. ↑ "Dixie Deans". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Dixie Deans". Neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Lamming, Douglas (1987). A Scottish Soccer Internationalists Who's Who, 1872–1986 (Hardback). Hutton Press. ISBN   0-907033-47-4. ().
  4. ↑ Celtic player Dean's, Dixie, FitbaStats
  5. 1 2 3 "The elite players who scored cup final hat-tricks". The Scotsman. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Dixie Deans – Scotland Football Record from 30 Oct 1974 to 20 Nov 1974 clubs – Celtic". Londonhearts.com. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "'So Bob Marley asked me... Are you the Dixie Deans who used to play for Celtic?' WHEN A PARKHEAD LEGEND MET A REGGAE SUPERSTAR". Evening Times . 7 October 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "John "Dixie" Deans". MOTHERWELLFC.net. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Celtic 3 Dundee Utd 0 Scottish Cup (Final)". Arab Archive. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Drybrough tonic from 'Old Firm', Evening Times, 5 August 1974, via The Celtic Wiki
  11. ↑ "Celtic legend Dixie Deans surprises his old Adelaide City soccer coach Rale Rasic". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.