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Everton FC's newest crowd favourite, Roberto Martinez, unveiled Everton’s Wall of Fame in tribute to their greatest idol today.

But the Blues boss joked that he wouldn’t want Dixie Dean in his present Goodison line-up “because it would be too easy!”

The much-loved Dixie Dean statue has been restored to its original site on Walton Lane – but is now the centrepiece of a Wall of Fame made up of personalised engraved stones either side of a new metal Goodison gateway.

The ‘Goodison Granites’ – as the stones are known – sold out within an hour of going on sale.

And a large crowd gathered outside Goodison today to watch the unveiling.

“As you can imagine we have a lot of nationalities and a lot of foreign players coming to represent our fantastic football club and to have a reference like Dixie Dean for them is a phenomenal sign of what we’re about,” said Martinez.

“Would I like a Dixie Dean in my side next season? It would be too easy! With the team we already have, and 60 goals on top, that would be far too easy!

“But from the first day I arrived here I knew we were a very special football club and I wanted to make sure that everything we do on a daily basis adds to the heritage and history that we have and is for you, the fans.”

Three generations of Dean’s family were present to witness the unveiling, daughter Barbara Dean and husband Mike Lewis, grand-daughter Melanie Prentice and great-grandchildren Daniel and Scarlett Prentice.

Blues Life President Sir Philip Carter was joined at the unveiling by Deputy Chief Executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale and the man who lies second in the all-time Goodison scoring list to the immortal Dixie, Graeme Sharp.

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Speaking on the 86th anniversary of Dean’s never to be beaten 60 goal season, Sir Philip said: ““I have brought along some notes with me because when I looked at the figures for Dixie I just can’t believe them.

“I know we’re celebrating 60 goals scored in one season – but in actual fact, including cup ties and internationals that season he scored 89 goals in total. Not bad!

“When he first started at 20 he was earning £2.50 a week, with £1 for a win and 50p for a draw. Not bad again.

“And when he was bought from Tranmere he cost us £3,000, he gave us 14 years scoring 433 goals, and when we sold him we managed to get £3,000 for him. Not bad going again.”

The new area has been a project co-ordinated by the Everton Fans’ Forum with support from the club.

The group of supporters, who meet monthly to discuss and input into key club decisions, were given the opportunity to drive the project through from concept to completion.

Tony Bott, Chairman of Everton fans forum, said: “This is a project the fans forum have been working on for a good number of months.

“The conception was to get Dixie back in his rightful place, but also to make an entrance to the ground and an area that will be a new way into Goodison Park so that you the fans are now recognised on the footprint of this stadium.

“It’s the first opportunity Everton have had to recognise the fans. We have recognised players and managers – and we all love them – but the fans make Everton what it is."

Before the grand unveiling boss Martinez also visited St Luke’s Church where the Everton Heritage Society regularly host pre-match exhibitions dedicated to highlighting the club’s rich history.

Martinez was shown around some of the exhibits, which include an international jersey worn by Alex ‘Sandy’ Young in the pre First World War era, by Society chairman Paul Wharton.

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