Dixie Dean to be honoured with Freedom of Wirral

Dixie Dean scored 60 goals in the 1927-28 season for the Blues

Everton football legend Dixie Dean is set to be posthumously awarded the Freedom of Wirral.

Councillors are due to formally approve a nomination for the borough's highest civic honour later.

William Ralph "Dixie" Dean, who was born in Birkenhead, was nominated by the town's MP Alison McGovern.

She said his achievements in football mean he is considered "a hero by everyone, regardless of which team you support".

"I think our heroes can belong to us all," Ms McGovern said.

Dean, born William Ralph 'Dixie' Dean was born on Laird Street in Birkenhead in 1907, hit an unprecedented 60 First Division goals for Everton in 1927-28 across 39 matches.

He went to Laird Street School and later the Portland Primary before his football career began at Tranmere before he moved to Everton.

'Miraculous'

Dean married his wife Ethel at St James' Church in 1931 and later moved to Larkhill Avenue in Upton where he lived until he died in 1980, while watching Everton play Liverpool at Goodison Park.

Ms McGovern said she hoped the honour would inspire "working class kids in Birkenhead to go on to do things that are equally as miraculous as Dixie Dean".

"He came from a very working class background. He had a hard life and he had to fight for what he achieved," she said.

"I would say that Dixie Dean was a superstar footballer before there were superstar footballers."

An extraordinary council meeting is set to take place later where Mr Dean's exceptional contribution to Wirral will be considered.