When Arsenal Witnessed Dixie Dean Make Football History

As many may or may not know, Highbury was a theatre when it came to all matters of sport, not only football, throughout its 93-year history (1913–2006).

The grand old stage hosted football, cricket and boxing, but in terms of the beautiful game, it witnessed some of the most defining moments in footballing history.

However, one of the greatest individual achievements involving Arsenal actually occurred away from the Gunners’ famous home, on the final day of the 1927/28 season, almost 100 years ago.

The season proved to be nothing special for Arsenal, who were yet to embark on their “Golden Era” during the 1930s, when they lifted five league titles and two FA Cups. They finished far off from being title contenders that year.

However, the man in charge was one of Arsenal’s most influential managers, Herbert Chapman, who laid the foundations for the North Londoners’ imminent future success, as well as changing the name of the closest tube station from Gillespie Road to Arsenal, amongst a number of revolutionary changes such as introducing white sleeves on the shirts during the early 1930s.

On 5 May 1928, the Gunners travelled to Goodison Park to face Everton at their greatest, who had already been crowned league champions for the third time in their history prior to the famous game about to unfold.

The official attendance was 48,715, although some accounts estimated that around 60,000 keen spectators were packed inside Goodison Park, waiting for history to be made.

The Toffees featured arguably the greatest striker to ever play the game. His name was Dixie Dean, who only ever wanted to play for Everton after having been taken to watch the Merseysiders win the title during the 1914/15 season by his dad, before the football calendar was postponed for a few years due to the outbreak of the First World War.

Dean was in search of breaking the English Football League record for the most goals scored in a season, which George Camsell had set with Middlesbrough not long beforehand, with 59 strikes in the Second Division before they were eventually promoted to the First Division in 1927.

The only way he could set the bar was if he achieved an elusive hat-trick.

Dean later suggested that Buchan showed little celebration of one of football’s most historic feats in the English game, perhaps feeling disappointed that Dixie’s record had overshadowed his own farewell.

With the home and neutral fans hoping to see Dean open the scoresheet, they were met with instant disappointment after James Shaw broke the deadlock early on, beating the Everton goalkeeper to put Arsenal ahead.

The dogged and determined Dean ran riot from the restart, heading the ball into the back of the net, with the scoreboard showing one apiece (1-1).

Shortly afterwards, the blue side of Merseyside were awarded a much-welcomed penalty, which called for the man of the occasion, Dean, to slot away (2-1).

With the crowd urging him on, Dean had now equalled Camsell’s record of 59 league goals, and the atmosphere inside Goodison Park was electric.

However, Arsenal were not prepared to give in, and an own goal from Everton’s Jack O’Donnell brought the scores level again at 2-2.

With the crowd still not giving in, Alec Troup fired a corner into the box with around eight minutes to go, with Dean indomitable in the moment, heading in the record-breaking 60th goal amongst a crowd of players inside the area.

No man ever, including the likes of Ted Drake, Jimmy Greaves, George Best, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Harry Kane or Erling Haaland, has been able to match his 60 league goals in an English top-flight season since.

The stadium erupted in celebration as Dean achieved the seemingly impossible, breaking a record which had been set only the previous season.

In the dying moments, the one and only Arsenal fought back through Shaw, rescuing a 3-3 draw. But by that stage, the game had been overshadowed by Dean’s 60th record-breaking strike of the First Division season.

Hats off to Dixie and to Arsenal, who did everything they could to contain him.

But in no time, it would be Arsenal’s turn, as they became the dominant force of the 1930s, even after the death of Chapman, under George Allison and beyond after the Second World War.

In total, Dean secured an astonishing 60 league goals during the 1927/28 season, a record which no man has beaten since!

Highbury was known as the “Home of Football”, and I’m sure many can see why Arsenal’s history remains intertwined with some of the greatest moments in the English game.

Even away from their famous North London home, the Gunners were part of a record-breaking occasion that has never been emulated since!

Liam Harding