In January 1939, just months after hanging up his boots and a few weeks
into his new career as a talent scout, William Ralph 'Dixie' Dean, the
former Everton and England legend, received a surprise request for
assistance from the far west of Ireland. Could he find a goalscorer for
Sligo Rovers - the beating heart of a small, provincial town - to drive
their dreams of a lucrative cup run and help protect the club's very
existence? Dean set about finding the right man, but unable to locate
candidates willing to make the move across the Irish Sea, he had an
idea. What if he were to answer Sligo's call? And so began the unlikely
story of how one of the greatest centre-forwards ever to grace the game
added an unexpected and ultimately uplifting chapter to his storied
football career. In the Shadow of Benbulben is a romantic tale of divine
intervention, uncanny timing and drama on and off the pitch. It's the
tale of 'Dixie' Dean's four months with the Bit O'Red that was to leave
an indelible mark on the player, the club and the town.