Premier League - but back in the early 1990s, it was a different type of fowl he was dealing with. Before becoming the famous whistler that he is today, Dean worked in a chicken factory, helping to slaughter 135,000 chickens a day.
The 53-year-old, whose on-pitch persona has made him a firm favourite among supporters, began refereeing in the 1980s as a way to lose weight.
Working his way through the ranks of the Northern Premier League and the Football League, Dean combined his time as an official with his job at the chicken factory.He worked in the poultry business for 16 years before quitting to become a full-time referee, making his debut in the Premier League in 2000.Speaking to Soccer AM star Tubes on his Golf Life YouTube channel,.
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