Latest update

Just to let you know what's been happening with the 'Dixie the People's Legend' project. It's still going ahead, but has obviously been knocked off schedule by the lack of investment. At the moment we're aiming to start shooting the reconstruction early next year and aim to have the film finished ready for a Christmas 2010 release.

In the meantime, the research is all but finished and we're building up relationships with other companies that will enable us to make a great film. We've also had to work on other projects, including the forthcoming film about the Champions league final 2005, '15 minutes that shook the world'. However, we haven't produced that film...just worked on it as crew. Dixie director Ian Lysaght, was director of photography and edited the film. Tabacula produced a behind the scenes documentary to go on the DVD extras. We were paid by their production company, Miracle Productions UK.

We're happy to talk to anyone about the project and are obviously very keen to talk to anyone about investing: - send us an email to: mail@tabacula.com

All the best
Jah Jussa
Producer

Mick Myers

As part of the 'Alex The Great' documentary about Everton great, Alex Young, Mick came into the studio to add his voice to the soundtrack - waxing lyrical about Alex's days in the Royal Blue and the effect that seeing 'The Golden Vision' play football has had on him.

Franny

Driving through Toxteth we chanced upon Franny, a true blue, who starts every wall he paints by writing 'Alex Young' on it, a testament to the mercurial Evertonian striker and the impact that he had on the fans. It must break Franny's heart to use red paint and have to paint over his work! When we asked him for a message to give to Alex, Franny said "I want him to run away with me Mam!"

The Golden Vision

We spent the weekend filming Alex 'The Golden Vision' Young on his return to Merseyside to promote his new biography, written by Dr David France. Alex, a true gentleman, was interviewed at Radio Merseyside before attending a dinner in his honour, where he received a standing ovation.

Steve Blundell

Introducing a new member to the team. Steve Blundell has come on board as production designer to the documentary and will be helping us on all the reconstructions. We went with Steve to Goodison to have a look at the tunnel as a possible location. According to Dick White, this isn't the original tunnel and it does look too modern for our purposes. If anyone can think of a suitable one for the film i.e. from the thirties, please let us know.

All press is good press?

We were doing a google search for press coverage of the documentary and found this gem on how-do.co.uk, under the headline Dixie Dean documentary boosted by funding and Everton support. According to them we've "been boosted by receiving a funding purse of £300,000." Sadly not true. We've had a loan to buy some equipment for £15,000 and the budget for the film is £200,000.
How-do go on to say: "So far the company has interviewed a host of personalities connected to the club and the player himself." Do you want to tell them or shall we? We've tried to contact them to put them right - not heard anything back just yet.

Eamonn Holmes 03/05/08 (part 2)

Eamonn Holmes 03/05/08 (part 1)

Sir Tom Finney

A true football legend, a gentleman and a scholar. We interviewed Sir Tom at Preston North End's ground - Deepdale. At one point, Tabacula had the keys to the whole stadium while we were searching for a quiet spot to do the interview but because of extensive work to the ground we ended up in the boardroom. The keys were returned!
Sir Tom reminisced about pre war football, Dixie's reputation and what it was like to live in the same community as the supporters, often getting the same bus home as the fans - A far cry from today's millionaires.

Matt Dean

Matt Dean grew up in Australia, largely unaware of his Grandfather's legacy. He admits that he has been blown away by what he has discovered on Merseyside. This project began when Matt came into the Tabacula office looking for a company to get involved in making a feature film of his Grandfather. We suggested that a feature documentary was more viable given our track record in making them and the rest is history. It's still unbelievable that no-one has made a documentary on Wililam Ralph Dean until now.

Dick White

We interviewed Everton season ticket holder, Dick White, at Goodison. Dick's first match was on New Years Day 1924. He's a remarkable gentleman and told us his now famous story about 'Dixie's' 6oth goal. Locked out of the boy's pen, he was sitting disconsolately on Bullens Road when a well-to-do gentleman asked him what was the matter. When he heard Dick's tale of woe, the gentleman gave him the extra 8d needed to get into the Gwladys Street Stand. He was behind the goal for Dixie's second goal (a penalty) and then struggled round the ground past the players tunnel to see the historic 60th goal.

Eamonn Holmes

Director Ian Lysaght was featured on The Eamonn Holmes show on Saturday 3rd May to mark the pending anniversary of the 60 goals in a season. You can listen to the audio for the next few days at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/eamonn_holmes.shtml and we'll post it on the blog afterwards. Eamonn was very supportive of the project and said that 'Dixie's' record was amazing.

Mark Lawrenson on 'Dixie' Dean

Notes from the Director #1

We are now deep into pre-production, having gathered enough material to cut the trailer (see below). Our priority now is to secure the rest of the investment. Having Bill Kenwright on-board has given the project a flying start. However we are still a way off securing the full budget Dixie's story requires.

In the meantime we continue to gather great interviews. This week Tim Cahill proved a very refreshing character. Far from the stereotyped modern footballer, Tim was well versed in Everton's history and was very knowledgeable on the Great Dixie, waxing lyrical about the man and his legacy.

We are still hungry for input and support. Don't hesitate to get in touch.

All the best

Ian

Tim Cahill on 'Dixie' Dean

Tim Cahill

Tim couldn't believe the kind of boots that Dixie used to have to play in. He said that you're considered great to be able to score 20 goals in the Premiership wearing modern boots, but for Dixie to have scored 60 goals wearing the big chunky boots, he must have been a magician.

This Is What We're Up Against

This is a comment left on youtube about Dixie:

"You chaps check out any football documentaries or history books on the game and you will notice Dean never gets a mention, NOT ONE. The best striker then was the Austrian Matthias Sindelar who was the star of the Austrian wonder team in the 1930's. Even in this substandard era Dean was nowhere near the best...even another unknown Camsell got 59 in a season as goals were EASY to score, dean wouldnt have made it in the developed football era post War, porky championship player at best."

Comments like this are the reason why we are determined to re-evaluate William Ralph Dean's record and his place in history. Remember, we can't tell this story without your help.

Mark Lawrenson

Mark contends that if Dixie was playing today, he'd be one of the most highly sought after centre forwards on the planet, worth £30 million or more. He doesn't think that too many of today's players could contend with the physicality of the game in the 20's and 30's let alone kick the rain soaked ball. He found Dixie's achievement of 60 goals in a season incomparable with modern day records.

Classic comment from Sir Dr David France

Dr David France

We interviewed David in St Luke's next to Goodison Park. David filled us in on the history of Dixie dean as told by the ledgers - the records of every meeting held by the Everton board. Dean was first scouted on January 15th, 1924 when he played for Tranmere against New Brighton. He was watched for the next year before Everton put in a formal bid of £2,750 on March 3rd, 1925. Tranmere turned this down and Everton came back on with an improved bid of £3,000. Dixie signed on 17th march, 1,925 and made his debut the day after, away at Arsenal. His initial wage was £5 per week until 3rd May 1925, then £6 form that date to February 1st 1926. He got a £1 bonus for playing in the first team.

Bill Kenwright

We presented the extended trailer to the Everton Shareholders on Saturday night. The film was warmly recieved - David Prentice reports in the Echo: "Local TV company Tabacula offered a tantalising glimpse of their planned Dixie Dean documentary, a moving trailer which left some of the audience in tears." We were able to announce that Club Chairman, Bill Kenwright, is coming on board and investing in the documentary. Bill will be an Executive Producer for the film.

Dixie The Peoples Legend Extended Trailer

Tabacula

An introduction to the creative team behind the Dixie People's Legend drama documentary, pictured here with Everton club legend Graeme Sharp. From left to right, Paul Nuttie, Graeme, Ian Lysaght, Kev Lysaght and Jah Jussa. Preparations are going well for the trailer and we should be able to post it here tomorrow.