Filming for a new documentary titled Dixie, tracing the life and career of Everton and England goalscoring legend Dixie Dean, has taken place in Southport.
The town’s Botanical Gardens in Churchtown was the venue this week for shots of the film’s Southport-based writer and presenter John Keith relating key milestones in Dixie’s remarkable career.
Filming for the revealing documentary by FreeStand Films has also taken place in various parts of England, Wales and Australia as well as at Goodison Park and Everton’s Finch Farm training headquarters.
“I had the pleasure and privilege of knowing Dixie and writing his biography The Inside Story Of A Football Icon,” said John.
“I also had the sadly poignant experience of taking him as my guest to the game where he passed away as a spectator, the Mersey derby at Goodison in March 1980.
“So this documentary is very close to my heart and it’s great to start shooting again after a year in lockdown. We’ve had terrific support for the film from Everton and it includes stars of today and yesteryear paying tribute to Dixie including Gary Lineker, Mark Lawrenson, Bill Kenwright, Duncan Ferguson, Joe Royle and Ian Callaghan.
“We also have revealing interviews with members of the Dean family, including Dixie’s son, Bill junior. The project is now in post production and, hopefully, ready for release some time this year.”
Birkenhead-born Dixie – full name William Ralph Dean – began his career with Tranmere Rovers, joining Everton in March 1925 for a fee of £3,000 and in 13 years at the club rattled in 383 goals in 433 appearances.
He also scored 18 goals in 16 England outings in an era when there far fewer international fixtures than today. Dixie’s 60 League goals for Everton when they won the title in 1927-28 remains unsurpassed and will probably last forever as the pinnacle of goalscoring.
From Dixie’s Jazz Age era to the high tech world of today no player has even come close to equalling Dixie’s total that season which he reached by scoring seven times in Everton’s final two games of the season ……..four at Burnley and a home hat trick against Arsenal.
“The film features Dixie talking about the big moments in his life and career and the overriding aim of myself, camera man Michael Wishart and director Gill Beattie has been to capture his remarkable story and the various setbacks he had to overcome,” John added. “It’s about the man and the player.”
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