[3] Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract under Gordon Lee in 1977.
[1] He was initially a regular in the "Valiants" team, but lost his place in October 1981 and struggled to break back into first-team contention thereafter.
[1] John McGovern's "Trotters" were relegated out of the Second Division in last place in 1982–83, though only three more points would have seen Bolton escape the drop at the expense of Grimsby Town.
[4] In May 1987, he captained Burnley at the lowest point of their history, when the club almost dropped out of the Football League and only survived on the last day of the season with a 2–1 victory over Orient at Turf Moor.
[4] He played 48 games in the 1987–88 season, and captained the club at Wembley in the 2–0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the final of the Football League Trophy.