Alf Dean

Born in West Bromwich, Alf Dean was a short in stature 5 ft 5 ins (1.65 m) but not negligible 11 st (69.8 kg) nippy diminutive outside right with great dribbling skills. He was educated at West Bromwich Baptist school and played for Tantany Rangers and West Bromwich Standard before he began his professional career with Walsall in 1894 but failed to make an impression and left to join his hometown club West Bromwich Albion in May 1896. Returning to Walsall in September 1898 Dean finished as second top scorer with 13 goals in 30 appearances in 1898–99 as Walsall finished 6th of 18 clubs in the Second Division. This included two hat tricks on 12 Nov 1898 in 6–1 win v Gainsborough Trinity and on 4 Mar 1899 in 10–0 win v Darwen. Dean began the following season 1899–1900 as outside right and finished as centre forward scoring 5 goals in 12 appearances. He was the highest scorer for Walsall in 1900–01 playing as centre forward scoring 11 goals in 23 appearances before a transfer to Nottingham Forest for £120 in February 1901. Dean also scored five goals in Walsall's 6–0 FA Cup win over Wellington Town on 8 Dec 1900. In a short spell at Nottingham Forest Dean made only seven appearances. In May 1901 he moved to Grimsby Town where he spent a single season in the First Division making 17 appearances at outside right scoring once before moving on to play for Bristol City in the Second Division. He made 25 appearances at outside right and finished second top scorer with 10 goals,…