*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Dean Pooley
Appearances: 84+3 Goals: 5
Date / Year of birth: 10th September 1986
Position: Centre-back / Full-back
Season of first appearance: 2011/12
Season of last appearance: 2012/13
Also played for: Charlton Athletic (0), Millwall (0+1,0), Walton & Hersham, Beckenham Town, Bohemian (Ireland), Ballymena United (Northern Ireland), Ebbsfleet United and Bromley
Versatile 6' 1" tall defender born in Sidcup, Kent who was with Charlton's academy as youth before joining Millwall ahead of the 2003/04 campaign.
Dean progressed through the Lions' junior ranks to the reserves and in October 2005 he was loaned to Isthmian League Premier Division club Walton & Hersham.
In December 2005 Dean signed a professional contract with Millwall and after being an unused substitute for four first team games - including an FA Cup tie at Everton in January 2006 - he made his senior debut on 22.4.06. Dean came on after 60 minutes of a 1-0 home win over Burnley in the Championship but it turned out to be his only appearance for the Lions.
In September 2006 Dean was loaned out to Kent League club Beckenham and after returning to The Den he continued to feature regularly in the reserves until December 2007 when he was released by mutual consent.
Early in 2007 Dean joined Irish club Bohemian and he made his debut for them in a match against Drogheda United in March 2007. He was released by the Bohs in December 2007 having scored once from 19 outings for them.
In January 2008 Dean moved to Northern Irish outfit Ballymena and made his debut in a 4-0 home defeat against Linfield on 16.2.08. He only played once more before being released in March 2008.
In the summer of 2008 Dean joined Ebbsfleet and made his first appearance in a match against Barrow in the Conference on 27.9.08. He went on to score once from a total of 78 outings for the Fleet before being released in May 2011, shortly after the club were promoted back to the Conference after a spell in the Conference South. Manager Liam Daish said "Dean is a good lad, and been a good servant, but we are in a different league and I have decided to go in a different direction next season."
In June 2011 Dean became Margate manager Chris Kinnear's first signing of his second spell in charge of the club and Kinnear told Margate's website "I told him about the plans for Margate and he was keen to sign; he wanted to join a club with ambition. He'll be a great asset because he can apply anywhere across the back. I saw him a few times last season when he was playing for Ebbsfleet. He's a Conference South quality player at least, and I'm pleased we've got him."
A few days before the start of the 2011/12 campaign Chris Kinnear again spoke to the Isle of Thanet Gazette about Dean and said "Calm and quick and another one who can play anywhere across the back four. He's been with Millwall and was in the Ebbsfleet side who won promotion from Conference South last season. Unlucky not to have stayed on there but it's good for us to get him".
Dean made his debut at centre-back in a 1-1 draw at Wealdstone in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 20.8.11 and in his next outing on 23.8.11 he marked his home debut with a goal in a 3-0 win over Aveley. From then on he was a fixture in the Margate side.
On 14.9.11 Dean gifted Metropolitan Police a goal as his header back to keeper Jack Smelt fell short and allowed a home attacker to score but Margate went on to win the game at Imber Court 3-1. He got his second goal in a 3-1 win over Kingstonian in an Isthmian League Cup tie at Hartsdown Park on 18.10.11 and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Dean "leapt like a salmon" to head home a Ryan Johnson cross.
On 8.11.11 Dean was sent off for a professional foul after 60 minutes as Margate lost 2-1 at Wealdstone in the FA Trophy and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he had "little choice" but to bring down Richard Jolly after goalkeeper Simon Overland kicked a clearance straight to the Wealdstone striker. As a result of his dismissal Dean was banned for one match and it was the only game he missed all season.
Having served his suspension Dean returned as a substitute in a 2-0 win at Harrow on 26.11.11 and after making one more sub appearance he played at left-back for the first time in a match against Canvey Island at Hartsdown Park on 3.12.11. With the visitors leading 1-0 with 20 minutes left Dean struck a speculative effort from fully 30 yards out that totally deceived the goalkeeper and flew into the net to level the scores. There were no further goals but with two minutes remaining Dean saved Margate from defeat by clearing off the line.
He spent most of the next three months wearing the number three shirt in the absence of the injured Dean Hill but on 10.3.12 he switched to right-back as Margate drew 0-0 with visitors Leatherhead. Dean then spent the remainder of the season in the number two shirt and finished the campaign having scored three times in 53 appearances (two as sub).
He started the 2012/13 season at left-back and after playing there in a 2-0 win over visitors Hendon in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 18.8.12 Dean was a regular in the side for the next few months barring minor cup ties.
On 10.11.12 he had his first outing of the campaign at centre-back as Margate won 2-0 at Harrow but it was a one-off due to the absence of John Beales and Dean then resumed his full-back duties. After featuring in a 0-0 draw at East Thurrock on 4.12.12 he missed two games and when Dean returned for a 1-0 home defeat against Cray on 26.12.12 he played at centre-back once again. He kept his place for the next three games but after a 2-1 win over Whitehawk at Hartsdown Park on 9.2.13 Dean missed three matches.
He was back in the heart of the defence as Margate beat visitors Hampton & Richmond 2-1 on 23.2.13 but Dean picked up an injury in the dying minutes and had to be substituted. He then missed eight games before coming on as a substitute in a 4-0 win over Cray at Bromley on 1.4.13. Dean resumed his duties at centre-back in a 1-0 home defeat against East Thurrock on 9.4.13 and he then started each of the last six matches of the season, playing at left-back in some of them.
On 20.4.13 Dean scored both Margate's goals in a 2-2 draw at Bury, first heading home a Matt Bodkin free-kick and then prodding home a loose ball in the aftermath of a Bodkin corner. He made his last appearance in a 0-0 draw with Harrow at Hartsdown Park on 27.4.13 and finished the campaign having scored twice from 34 outings (one as sub).
Dean featured as a substitute in Margate's first friendly ahead of the 2013/14 season - a 5-1 win at Ashford on 9.7.13 - but he then left the club and joined Conference South outfit Bromley.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
| |
|
2011/12 (MFC) |
51 (54) |
2 |
3 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (15TH OF 22) |
3QR |
2QR |
3R |
QF |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
| |
|
2012/13 (MFC) |
33 (50) |
1 |
2 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (9TH OF 22) |
3QR |
1QR |
2R |
QF |
|