THE SKY BLUE LEGEND, 1980’S MIDFIELDER IS 61 TODAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAN

Dean Emerson, a member of CCFPA and a former Sky Blue midfielder from the 1980s, had a very happy birthday! Today marks Dean’s 61st birthday—he was born on December 27, 1962, in Salford, Lancashire!

Dean came to Highfield Road in October 1996 as part of a player exchange from Rotherham United. John Sillett, a former Sky Blue player who later became a “gaffer” and CCFC Life President (until his untimely death), was impressed by Dean’s performance in a League Cup match against us earlier in the year. Dean was purchased by the Millers in July 1985 for £40,000 from Stockport County, where he had started his professional career in 1982.

In October 1986, he made his Sky Blue debut in the midfield against Wimbledon at Highfield Road, winning 1-0. He became somewhat of a crowd favorite with his unwavering tackling style and his mutual understanding with Lloyd McGrath, who is now a fellow member of the CCFPA. Even though Dean was able to participate early in the Sky Blues’ spectacular 1986–87 F.A. Cup run, which culminated in that incredible Wembley victory over the Spurs in May of that year, he tragically missed out on further rounds due to a serious knee injury sustained in March of that same year.

Even though his problematic knee limited his tenure with the Sky Blues, he still managed to accrue 131 Sky Blue appearances across all competitions by the time he left for Hartlepool United in July 1992 for a fee of £50k.

After sixty games (one goal) for the north easterners Dean spent a short spell at Preston North End (1994) before dropping down to non-league football with the likes of Chorley (1995), VS Rugby, Hinckley United (1998), Pershore Town and Stafford Rangers

After playing football for Massey Ferguson, he ended his career locally and went on to work as a postal worker and courier in Coventry and the surrounding area.

Dean comes back to visit us whenever he can, and he has participated in charity games with the Sky Blues Legends XI and previous Legend’s Day and Golf Day reunions.