THE story of Dixie Dean comes home to its Wirral starting point this month when a hit stage show celebrating the Birkenhead-born striker’s career is performed at the Floral Pavilion Theatre in New Brighton.

Dean may have achieved his greatest fame when scoring 60 league goals in a season for Everton in 1927/28.

But he first broke into the professional game with his hometown club Tranmere Rovers, where his 27 goals in 33 games earned him a move across to Goodison Park.

The production, written and narrated by Merseyside-based journalist and author John Keith and produced by Gill Beattie, has already enjoyed success in shows at Crosby and Liverpool University.

For Steve Hazelhurst, the Wirral actor who portrays Dean, the New Brighton performance has a special resonance.

Hazelhurst was born in the same Birkenhead north area as Dean, attended the same Laird Street school and played centre-forward in the school team.

Hazelhurst is also a regular spectator at Prenton Park, taking his sons to watch Rovers games, although he insists: “I’m a Liverpool fan first and foremost.”