30 DIXIE DEAN
One of the greatest goalscorers in England football history, Dean joined Ireland’s Sligo Rovers in 1939. Understandably, that sent the locals wild – Sligo’s railway station was overcome with hordes of people, desperately clamouring to catch a glimpse of the striker.
HOW’D IT GO? Dean netted 10 times in just seven league outings, although he had his cup final runners-up medal stolen – it was returned to him years later.
29 PETER BEARDSLEY
A little-known youngster for Carlisle United, Northumberland-born Beardsley headed to Canada in the early 1980s – signing for NASL club Vancouver Whitecaps under manager Johnny Giles, the former Leeds United star.
HOW’D IT GO? His goalscoring form helped to earn him a transfer to Manchester United – that didn’t go brilliantly, so he was soon back at Vancouver again, before making his name in England with Newcastle United.
28 LES FERDINAND
These days, everyone goes to Turkey – that wasn’t the case when QPR loaned a young Ferdinand to Besiktas in 1988. It was the only time that Sir Les played abroad – and it yielded one of his two major trophies, the Turkish Cup under English boss Gordon Milne.
Being instructed to release a dove on the pitch – he threw it up into the air, but it plummeted like a stone and crashed to the ground. Oh…
