I'm sure there was a thread about Norman Dean a while ago. Unless my memory fails me, I saw him score 5 goals in our remarkable 10-2 friendly victory against Accra Hearts Of Oak, a team full of internationals who were champions of their national League. Dean was a very talented player.
Good god not be long now before we're sat in that care home, one foot in the grave . Glad we're connected at last .
I recall seeing Norman Dean for the first time in the game v Orient at Oakwell, September 14th 1968. He was signed for £10k from Cardiff as stated and could play centre forward, or inside forward. The rumour was that we had bought him on reputation only and without having watched him play, mainly on account of the goals he had scored the previous season in a European Cup tournament. It was a lot of money for us at the time and it initially back-fired, as he played only twelve times, scoring just three goals in the whole of the season. The club might have known that, at that time, Cardiff were a dodgy club from which to buy players, as there had been a drinking culture there and Dean admitted later that he was over-weight, taking rigorous steps to address the issue during the following close season. He also was injured and, although scoring on his debut with a decent header, never reached his best. He was, no doubt, a class player and made a great impression with his smart first touch and vision. I can recall fans booing the selection of Johnny Evans over him in a game against Brighton, in which poor Evans had the misfortune to also miss a first half penalty. 0-0 at half time, we went on to win 4-0 and all was forgiven about the selection. He was from Corby in Northants by birth, although probably of Scottish stock for all I know before that, as most of the population of Corby migrated to the town once the steelworks opened. Good performer for both Southampton and Cardiff City, so he looked a good catch for us and did, eventually, prove his true worth. Best goals? Two away at Walsall in a snowy game we lost 2-3.
Brilliant research young man I can only remember being a fans favourite and shouting his name. I don't recall how good he was I was about 9 or 10 at that time.
