Everton confirm ‘no permanent damage’ has been done to Dean statue after footage emerged

Everton have confirmed that no permanent damage was caused to a statue of their all-time top goalscorer Dixie Dean after footage emerged of the monument being set alight with a flare.

Toffees fans were left disgusted and upset when footage released online of the incident outside their home ground Goodison Park on Monday.

In a statement responding to the vandalism, the club said: ‘Everton is assisting Merseyside Police with enquiries in relation to a flare ignited on the Dixie Dean statue outside Goodison Park.

Everton confirmed no permanent damage was caused to statue of all-time scorer Dixie Dean

Footage emerged online of the statue being set alight by a flare on Monday

‘We encourage anyone with information relating to this disappointing and disrespectful incident to contact Merseyside Police.

Following inspection – and cleaning of the memorial and the site – we can thankfully confirm no permanent damage has been done to the statue of our greatest-ever goalscorer – or the floral tributes laid at the foot of the statue.’

Police officers have now confirmed that they are investigating the incident that some fans labelled as ‘disgusting’ and ‘disgraceful’.

The statue – located on Spellow Lane – has become an emotional landmark for Toffees supporters, as many fans lay flowers under the statue for loved ones who have passed and supported Everton. 

Dean is Everton’s greatest-ever goalscorer, scoring 60 goals in a single season in 1927/28 and 383 in total. 

Fans were left disgusted as the statue is popular with fans remembering loved ones

Police are now investigating the issue after the footage was posted online 

Video footage was posted online of a flare burning on the arm of the Dean statue as several floral arrangements lay underneath. 

Merseyside Police Acting Chief Inspector Robert Ross said: ‘Flares can cause serious injury to people and damage to property, and seizures like Friday’s show our determination to prevent them being used irresponsibly and from causing serious injury and distress.

‘We will continue to work with all our emergency services and take action to keep people safe.

‘I would urge anyone who knows who is responsible for putting a flare on the Dixie Dean statue, a focal point for so many people at times of celebration and grief, to contact us.’