Everton were already the champions when Arsenal visited Goodison Park ON THIS DAY in 1928… but there was still a tense atmosphere around the stadium.

That’s because, the title in the bag, all the attention was now on the 21-year-old centre-forward William Ralph ‘Dixie’ Dean, who was three goals away from immortality.

Twelve months earlier, Middlesbrough’s George Camsell had scored 59 goals in the Second Division to create a record that many thought would last forever.

Dean had other ideas, though, and set about scoring with stunning regularity.

With nine games to go of that 1927/28 campaign, Dean was still 17 goals short of creating a new record.

He found the net eight times in the next half-a-dozen matches, which meant he still required nine from the last three… surely too big a target even for him?

He subsequently scored twice against Aston Villa, and then four times against Burnley to set up a dramatic finale on 5 May.

James Shaw gave the Gunners the lead in the second minute but, shortly after, Dean headed home the equaliser to give the Evertonians hope.

Then, in the eighth minute, Dean was fouled in the penalty area and when the referee pointed to the spot, there was only ever going to be one taker.

He scored!

The record had been equalled and Dean had the best part of the match to complete his hat-trick and overhaul Camsell.

Everton defender Jack O’Donnell put through his own goal before half-time but nobody really cared. The outcome of the match was totally secondary to Dean’s record attempt.

The second half ticked by and, despite having chances, the Everton and England centre-forward was thwarted time and time again. Would it be a case of so close, yet so far?

No, it wouldn’t!

With eight minutes to go, Alec Troup provided the most famous assist in the Club’s history when he delivered a beautiful corner-kick into the Arsenal box, allowing Dean to power home a header.

Goodison Park went absolutely berserk and the ecstatic cheering for their 60-goal hero continued unabated even when Shaw scored another Arsenal equaliser before the end.

The referee wisely allowed Dean to leave the field before the final whistle, for fear of a pitch invasion.

What a day!

The newly crowned champions may not have won their final game of the season, but history was made that still hasn’t been matched… and probably never will be.