Everton striker Dixie Dean scored an astonishing 60 goals in the 1927/28 season.
That was over 90 years ago – imagine what a forward of that caliber could earn now. Well, the English first division was very different back then.
While still professionals, footballers didn’t earn film-star wages, and most lived relatively ordinary lives. At his peak Dean earned £8 a week and didn’t own a car, travelling to training and matches on the tram, alongside fans making their way to the ground themselves.
The nearest to Dean’s remarkable 60-goal haul in the modern era is Barcelona maestro Lionel Messi. He got 50 in the 2011/12 season and earns a reported £85 million a year (not including endorsements).
When he retired, Dean took up several jobs and even ran a pub.
Moonlighting wasn’t uncommon either.
Stewart Imlach was a winger and Scotland international who played for sides such as Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Crystal Palace between 1952 and 1967.
But, despite his skills, his earnings were low and during pre-seasons he often worked as a joiner or window fitter to pay the bills.
Around the same time, Newcastle United hero Jackie Milburn would work a shift as a miner on a Saturday morning before getting the bus to St James’ Park to play.
By 1955, the average player’s wages were still only £8 a week; factory workers might have expected to earn £11.
Clubs imposed a league-wide maximum wage system, which meant players could not earn more than their clubs wanted to pay them and weren’t in the position to negotiate. The retain and transfer system also restricted the freedom of players to transfer from one club to another.
The ‘retain’ element meant players effectively agreed to stay at clubs they joined forever, or until they were sold, often against their wishes.
That all changed in 1963, when a player called George Eastham took Newcastle Utd to court for refusing to let him join Arsenal. The High Court declared the system unfair and gave players more rights when renegotiating their contracts or moving teams.
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