Date / Year of birth: 23rd March 1982

Position: Midfielder

Season of first appearance: 2005/06

Season of last appearance: 2007/08

Also played for: Welling United, Luton Town, St.Albans City, East Thurrock United, Erith & Belvedere, Carshalton Athletic, Cray Wanderers, Brentwood, Maldon & Tiptree and Thamesmead Town

Combative 5' 11" tall Lewisham-born midfielder who started his career with Welling. Dean captained the Wings' youth team before Division 2 (later League One) club Luton paid £25,000 for him as an 18 year-old in the summer of 2000. Dean had impressed the Hatters manager Lennie Lawrence when playing for Welling against Luton in an FA Youth Cup tie during the 1999/00 season.

Dean was a regular in Luton's reserves during the 2000/01 campaign and made 19 appearances for them (five as sub) without scoring. His team-mates included future Margate players Rocky Baptiste and Scott Ward. Both Dean and Rocky were released by the Hatters at the end of the season.

Dean rejoined Welling in the summer of 2001 and was the Southern League Premier Division outfit's second top scorer during 2001/02 having managed 12 goals. He stayed with the Wings for the 2002/03 campaign and in February 2003 Dean was loaned to St.Albans.

He made three Isthmian League Premier Division appearances (two as sub) for the Hertfordshire club before returning to Welling.

Shortly after the end of the 2003/04 season Dean signed for Folkestone but in early August 2004 he was released by the club for financial reasons before their debut season in the Isthmian League Premier Division began.

Dean ended up starting the 2004/05 campaign with Southern League Eastern Division outfit East Thurrock before moving on the Rocks' league rivals Erith & Belvedere in October 2004.

Dean spent the rest of the season with the Deres and on 3.1.05 he was sent off in a 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Barking & East Ham. He scored three goals from 30 outings (one as sub) before leaving the club at the end of the 2004/05 campaign.

In the summer of 2005 Dean signed for Margate and made his debut as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat at Ramsgate on 13.8.05 in a match played for the Kent Messenger Cup. On 20.8.05 he made his first start as Margate beat Maldon 1-0 in an Isthmian League Premier Division game at Hartsdown Park and from then on Dean was a fixture in the number 11 shirt for the next three months.

The Thanet Times felt he was Margate's "most vocal player" in a 4-0 home win over Cowes in the FA Cup on 10.9.05 and said Dean "showed another side to his game by getting stuck into tackles". The paper said it was "his best game for Margate" and in its report on a 2-2 draw with Slough at Hartsdown Park on 17.9.05 the Times said Dean "threw himself into tackles but passes went astray".

On 8.11.05 he was captain for the night as Margate lost 3-2 at home to Bromley in an Isthmian League Cup tie but on 12.11.05 Dean was sent off just before half-time in a 1-0 defeat against visitors Dartford in the FA Trophy. He reacted badly to a challenge from former Margate player Steve Hafner and the Thanet Times said it was a "stupid red card". The paper added "Margate fans haven't taken Dean Standen to their hearts and his red card for retaliation won't help his popularity. It was a pretty daft thing to do".

A 1-1 draw with Bromley at Hartsdown Park on 22.11.05 was Dean's 22nd consecutive start but after that game he had to serve a one match ban. Margate manager Chris Kinnear told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "He's had a bit of stick but he works very hard for the side" and Dean returned as a substitute in a 3-1 defeat at East Thurrock on 3.12.05 before starting the next five games. The Thanet Times said he made "some nice passes" in a 1-0 home defeat against Leyton on 10.12.05 and also added "taking more time may wipe out stray balls".

In January 2006 Dean missed two games due to suspension but after making his comeback in a 2-2 draw with Slough at Windsor & Eton on 21.1.06 he was a regular in the side once more. On 28.1.06 Dean played at left wing-back in a 0-0 draw with Harrow at Hartsdown Park and the Thanet Times said "while all fans have their favourites, poor old Dean Standen has never won over the Margate fans". Chris Kinnear told the paper "We haven't got a left-back at the moment and it's a bit unfair to give him stick. He's not a natural left-back but he's helping us out. What are we supposed to do - play with 10 ?"

Dean ended up spending the rest of the season at left wing-back and in its report on a 2-1 home win over East Thurrock on 4.2.06 the Thanet Times said he "probably had his best game for the club". The paper said Dean "did really well" and "tackled back when needed, played some nice through balls and put in decent crosses". By the end of the 2005/06 campaign he'd made 46 appearances (four as sub) without scoring.

On the eve of the 2006/07 season Margate's new player-manager Robin Trott spoke to the Isle of Thanet Gazette about Dean and described him as "An underestimated player who's very adaptable in a few places. It might seem like he's not bothered but he's a very determined player. Has improved under me and Mike Flanagan." After missing Margate's first two Isthmian League Premier Division games Dean made his first appearance of the new campaign as a substitute in a 2-1 win over Slough at Hartsdown Park on 26.8.06 and he also featured as a sub in a 5-1 win at Folkestone two days later.

On 2.9.06 Dean made his third consecutive appearance from the bench when he came on in the 87th minute of a 3-0 home win over Chelmsford and barely three minutes later he was sent off after a clash with an opponent. On 5.9.06 he played at left-back in a 2-0 win at Walton & Hersham and after missing Margate's next match Dean had his first outing of the season in midfield in a 2-0 defeat at Ramsgate in the Isthmian League Cup on 12.9.06.

After missing four games due to suspension Dean was back in the number three shirt as Margate won 2-1 at Whitstable in the FA Cup on 30.9.06 and he then featured in four of the next six matches, making four starts in midfield and two sub appearances. However after playing in a 1-0 defeat at Gloucester in the FA Trophy on 4.11.06 Dean fell out of favour and only had two sub outings in Margate's next six games.

On 9.12.06 he made his first start for over a month when he played at left-back in a 4-0 win at Horsham and ahead of that game Robin Trott had told the Thanet Times "I think Dean's a good player to have in the team. When I came here, people were saying Standen this and Standen that but he's always been good enough for me. He's done the club a favour by playing out of position. People haven't seen that but it smacks me straight in the face. In centre-midfield he's as good as anyone I've seen. Maybe his distribution isn't 100 per cent but his timing of tackles and his commitment are spot-on. He got his move from Welling to Luton because he's a good player." Dean kept his place for a 4-1 win over Hendon at Hartsdown Park on 16.12.06 but then sat out the next three matches.

He returned to action as a substitute in a 2-1 home win over Worthing on 13.1.07 and Dean also came off the bench in each of Margate's next four games before making his first start for over two months in a 2-1 defeat at Carshalton on 17.2.07. He also played in midfield three days later as Margate won 2-1 at Tonbridge and Dean was sent off ten minutes from time after picking up a second yellow card for showing dissent to the referee. Robin Trott told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "It was a sending-off. Dean's told him to eff off and that's it. He'd already been booked and needed to be careful." Dean played once more in the number eight shirt before serving a two match ban.

He made his comeback in midfield in a 5-1 win over visitors Leyton on 20.3.07 and Dean then started four of Margate's next five games up to and including a 2-2 draw with Slough at Windsor & Eton on 7.4.07. He was used as a substitute in the following two matches but Dean regained his place for a 1-1 draw with Ashford (Middlesex) at Hartsdown Park on 21.4.07 and stayed in the side for Margate's last game of the season - a 1-0 defeat at Hendon on 28.4.07. He finished the 2006/07 campaign having made 33 appearances (14 as sub) without scoring.

After Dean scored in a 2-2 draw with Grays in a pre-season friendly at Hartsdown Park on 21.7.07 Robin Trott told the Isle of Thanet Gazette that he'd "had an unbelievable pre-season" and a few days before the start of the new campaign Trott again spoke to the Gazette about Dean. The Margate boss said he was "Our most improved player. Has come back this season and been immense - man-of-the-match nearly every friendly we've played. He's always had it in him. He was a hell of a player when he was younger but is maybe more focused now."

The Thanet Times said Dean was "the heartbeat of the Margate midfield" in a 1-1 draw with Chelmsford at Hartsdown Park on 18.8.07, the opening day of the Isthmian League Premier Division season, but on 21.8.07 he had a penalty saved in a 2-0 defeat at East Thurrock. Dean's miss came at a time when the score was 1-0 and Robin Trott told the Isle of Thanet Gazette he was surprised Dean had taken the spot-kick. Trott said "Deano's cultured on the ball and capable of scoring but I was surprised to see him take it. We had our penalty-takers sorted and I thought Jimmy Jackson was gonna take it, but Deano stepped up and you can't then shout in his ear-hole to leave it, you have to put your faith in the lad. His body-shape told me he wasn't confident and to be honest it was a dreadful penalty. But missed penalties are one of those things and Deano's been playing ever so well."

In his next outing on 25.8.07 Dean scored his first goal for Margate with what the Thanet Times described as a "cracking top-corner strike from 22 yards" in a 4-2 win over Wealdstone at Northwood and he'd previously played 81 times without finding the net.

In its report on a 3-1 home win over Tonbridge on 1.9.07 the Thanet Times praised Dean for playing a "defence-killing through ball" to set up one of Charley Side's three goals and on 8.9.07 Dean picked up his fifth booking of the season in only his seventh outing of the campaign as Margate drew 1-1 at Staines. He'd started nine of a possible ten matches when he had to go off injured in the second half of a 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon at Hartsdown Park on 25.9.07 and it turned out that Dean had broken a rib. He missed six games as a result before returning to Margate's midfield in a 0-0 draw against Aylesbury at Chesham in the FA Trophy on 21.10.07. He then played regularly again during the weeks that followed.

On 29.10.07 Dean was sent off a minute from the end of a 1-1 draw at Folkestone after getting involved in what the Isle of Thanet Gazette described as "a handbags session" prompted by Jay Saunders' tackle on former Margate player Jim Corbett. Robin Trott told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "I saw it and it was a definite red card. It's his way but what can you do ? He gets fined and he knows he's let the team down and me down - he's let everybody down. It's unacceptable and it's the same faces doing it every time."

Dean featured in the next three games before serving a four-match ban after playing at left-back in a 2-1 win over Harrow at Hartsdown Park on 10.11.07. He made his comeback as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at Harlow on 8.12.07 and three days later Dean made his first start for over a month as Margate beat visitors Welling 2-1 in a Kent Senior Cup tie.

On 26.12.07 Dean picked up his fifth red card for Margate and his second of the season in a 1-1 draw with neighbours Ramsgate at Hartsdown Park. He got involved in a melee following an Ollie Schulz foul on Margate striker Rob Haworth and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Dean "appeared to lay hands on referee Ian Gosling before putting himself at the centre of a handbags session featuring most of the 22 players". Ramsgate manager Jimmy Ward told the paper "Standen's come in wanting to fight the world. Idiot - there's no other word for him."

Dean played in Margate's next two matches but after going off with a hamstring problem in a 2-1 home win over Ashford (Middlesex) on 5.1.08 he had to serve a four-match suspension before returning in a 3-2 defeat at Tonbridge on 9.2.08.

Dean kept his place as Margate took on Staines at Hartsdown Park on 16.2.08 but it turned out to be his final outing for the club. As the final whistle confirmed a 3-1 win Dean took off his shirt and bizarrely headed off towards the Margate fans at the Hartsdown Road end before jumping over the pitch wall to confront a supporter who'd been abusing him during the game. The Thanet Times' ran a headline "Standen In Hot Water" and Margate director Keith Piper told the paper "I understand Dean was being verbally abused by a supporter. He recognised who it was and, after the game, did a very stupid thing in taking his shirt off and jumping the barrier to go after the chap. We need to look at the circumstances because I only know rumours at this stage. But for me it's totally unacceptable for a player to actually leave the field. It's very difficult to condone such actions."

A few days later Dean was sacked by the club and chairman Malcolm Rowlett told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "We've terminated Standen's contract which had until the end of the season to run. Obviously we can't condone that kind of behavior at the end of a match. You can't react like that - it goes totally against all rules and regulations." The Gazette said that Dean had "a reputation as a hothead" and Rowlett added "The lad has a short fuse and we've tried to deal with that in the past, although when he's not playing football he's a really nice bloke. We had a board meeting and had to act quickly. We've terminated his contract by letter and he obviously has the right to appeal but the chap's guilty. He left the pitch and you can't do that. If the referee had seen it he would have had even more problems." Dean had scored once from 25 outings (one as sub) during 2007/08 before leaving Margate.

In March 2008 Dean signed for Carshalton and scored on his debut after coming on as a substitute as they lost 2-1 at home to Folkestone in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 8.3.08. He left the Robins at the end of the 2007/08 campaign having made a total of nine appearances.

In the summer of 2008 Dean joined Cray and their assistant manager Joe Francis told the Kentish Football website "He comes with a pedigree (and) looks like a footballer." On 26.7.08 Dean played as Cray lost 4-0 to Ebbsfleet at Bromley in the Kent Senior Cup Final held over from the previous season and on 10.8.08 he was part of the side that lost 3-1 at Margate in a friendly but he didn't feature in Cray's side in the opening weeks of the 2008/09 campaign.

In September 2008 Dean moved on to Brentwood where he made five sporadic Isthmian League Division 1 North appearances (four as sub) without scoring before briefly returning to Carshalton early in January 2009.

Before the end of January 2009 Dean rejoined Cray and he scored once from ten Division 1 South outings (three as sub) during the remainder of the season as the club won promotion to the Premier Division. He stayed at Cray for the 2009/10 campaign too but Dean struggled with injuries and he only managed to make six Premier Division appearances before leaving the club at the end of the season.

In May 2010 he signed for newly-formed Division 1 North club Maldon & Tiptree but Dean was again hampered by injuries. He scored twice from 20 league appearances (two as sub) and then left the club at the end of the 2010/11 campaign.

In June 2011 Dean linked up with Division 1 North outfit Thamesmead and their manager Keith McMahon told the Kentish Football website "It's a massive signing for the club, most probably the biggest in the club's history. He is only 29 and still has a lot to offer. He is really positive about next season with us. He is someone that we can build a team around and he will help the youngsters we already have."

In only his second outing for Thamesmead Dean scored an injury time equaliser as they grabbed a 1-1 draw at his old club Brentwood but he missed much of 2011/12 due to injury. Dean left Thamesmead at the end of the season and didn't play anywhere at the start of the 2012/13 campaign.