When Dixie Dean dropped deep to sink Cork at the Mardyke

In 1939, former Everton and England legend 'Dixie' Dean spent four months with Sligo Rovers - a spell that would leave an indelible mark on the player, club and town. Two weeks after his arrival, Dixie came to Cork... 

Dixie Dean heads the winning goal for Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park in the 1939 FAI Cup final Picture courtesy of Sligo Rovers Heritage Group

Feb 12, 1939

With a league title out of the question after their recent poor run of form, Sligo Rovers travelled south to Cork for the first round of the FAI Cup a week later. It was their third road trip in two and a half weeks, covering all points east, west and south that the senior domestic game in Ireland had to offer. Given what would have been an expensive run of games for any Irish club, the Sligo hierarchy will at least have been buoyed by the impact on attendances that Dixie Dean was having. And they would end up more than pleased on that showery, cold February Sunday, as yet another record crowd turned out at Cork City’s Mardyke home to see Dixie play.