DANCING PROVES SUCCESS FOR DIXIE DEAN
Image from ARSENAL.COM Blog by Jon Spurling 18/12/25
Just 88 days to go until FreeStand Films present the premiere screening of the documentary “DIXIE: The Goal King” at New Brighton Floral Pavilion…details below.
John Keith (script writer and co-producer), writes…
Take your partners…for a goal fest! With the nation gripped by TV’s “Strictly Come Dancing” it seems pertinent to recall that Dixie Dean used the art form to hone his skills in front of goal and lead defenders on a merry old dance!
Dixie’s interest in dancing began as a youngster in Birkenhead where he was born in 1907 as the only boy in a family of six sisters who introduced him to the dance floor. Little did they know it then, but their influence would become part of Dixie’s armoury in the hostile area of the penalty box. “I enjoyed it”, said Dixie. “My sisters encouraged me to go to classes and I turned out quite a decent dancer, especially early on as a tap dancer.”
“There was many a time during my Everton days, particularly when we were away on special training, I’d start performing my tap dancing for the lads which I loved.”
Eventually Dixie added ballroom to his dancing portfolio. “I learned ballroom dancing, but I never had any special partners. I just might meet a girl at a dance and have a few dances with her.”
Dancing was, though, a serious part of Dixie’s football ability as his late son William related. “My dad could perform tap dancing like Fred Astaire,” William enthused. “He said it helped his balance, which is the secret of any sport.
When I was a boy, I saw him play in a charity match at Ellesmere Port with his former Tranmere and England colleague Tom “Pongo” Waring and former Liverpool player Tom Gardner. “From a throw-in Gardner put the ball on Pongo’s bald head and he, in turn, nodded it to my dad who was surrounded by four defenders. But he took a step one way, taking the defenders with him, then turned in the other direction and headed the ball into the net.
“He could roll the ball around his head and it was a great example of his perfect balance which his dancing helped develop".
"When we had the pub in Chester he used to tap dance on the wooden lift-up door that led to the cellar. It was like a little stage and he’d regularly give us a demonstration. His technique was superb.”
Big stage or little stage. It didn’t matter to Dixie. He was at home on them all and a great mover.
So why not make YOUR move to book your seat and join us for the film premiere of “DIXIE: The Goal King”.
Tickets at £32 with concessions £27 are available now:
New Brighton Floral Pavilion – Friday January 22, 2027
Box office on 0151 666 0000 or on line at floralpavilion.com.
VIEW Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeUJMEwJcUY&t=19s
BOOK Tickets: https://www.floralpavilion.com/event/dixie-the-goal-king-debut-screening-with-special-guest-graeme-sharp/
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