Club Career
Born in Hillingdon, Wilkins represented QPR, Leyton Orient and Brighton & Hove Albion as a player, before moving into coaching. He is the son of footballer George Wilkins and the youngest brother of the former England international Ray Wilkins and Chelsea defender Graham Wilkins. Summers 1981 and 1982 Wilkins played in Finland.
Wilkins initially struggled to break into the Brighton team the year after they were relegated from the old first division, and so left to make his mark on the continent. He returned to play with some distinction for Brighton, having an excellent passing ability and delivery from free kicks.
In the 1990–01 season Wilkins scored in the final minute of the final match of the season to earn Brighton a place in the play-offs in division two, despite having negative goal difference for the season.
After Brighton won a two legged semi-final 6-2 against Millwall, Brighton lost 3-1 to Notts County in a pink wavy kit that resembled a pack of raspberry Chewits sweets. Wilkins scored Brighton's goal in the final minute, and so became the last Brighton player to hit the onion bag at the old Wembley stadium.
Read more about this topic: Dean Wilkins
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