A full back, Dean was a product of Chester's youth policy and broke into the first–team ranks near the end of 1981–82 as a 17-year-old.
He made his professional debut in Chester's 2–1 defeat by Brentford on 24 April 1982[1] and ended the season with four league outings to his name.
[3] But he was one of eight players released by manager John Sainty at the end of the season as the club halved its wage bill.
[4] This marked the end of Dean's professional career but he then enjoyed a three-year stint with Northwich Victoria, where he made 89 league appearances.
[5] This spell also included an appearance at Wembley Stadium in the 1984 final of the FA Trophy against Bangor City, which Northwich won after a replay.