Dean Edwards initially arrived at St James’ Park from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1987 and, after a lengthy stint with Torquay United, returned to Exeter City to make a handful of appearances before finishing his Football League career with Northampton Town.

Dean began his career as an apprentice with Shrewsbury Town in 1978, and turning professional in February 1980, made 13 league appearances before a summer season in Finland with Kuopion Palloseura. Returning home he had several seasons with Telford United ahead of joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in October 1985 where he was to score nine times in 31 league games. 

Arriving at Exeter City in March 1987 aged twenty-five, Dean made his debut for the Grecians in the draw against Rochdale on 28 March 1987. Remaining in the team for the rest of the season Dean tallied five goals from eleven appearances as he subsequently went on to finish top-scorer in 1987/88 with twelve strikes from 43 league outings.

Somewhat surprisingly Dean was allowed to join Torquay United in August 1988 and, in his first season, helped his new club reach the final of the Football League Trophy with Dean going on to score Torquay’s goal in the Wembley defeat against Bolton Wanderers. Eventually accumulating 116 league appearances for Torquay (28 goals) - 34 goals in 155 games in all competitions - Dean scored for Torquay at Wembley once more during the 1991 play-off victory over Blackpool. 

Finding his contract cancelled by Torquay in September 1991, and following unsuccessful trials elsewhere, Dean returned to St James’ Park in December 1991 on a short-term deal but only featured in four league games for the Grecians ahead of a similarly brief stay at Northampton Town. He then played for Hong Kong Rangers, Sliema Wanderers (Malta), Stafford Rangers, Dorchester Town and Barnstaple Town prior to managing Bideford between 1996 and 1998. 

After running a pub close to Torquay’s ground, Dean moved back to Wolverhampton to manage a social club and to return to football management with Pelsall Villa, Willenhall Town and Hednesford Town. Back again in South Devon, Dean worked as Torquay’s commercial manager from 2011 until, in 2015, he became involved in forming a group to purchase the club from outgoing owner Thea Bristow. Following the takeover, which proved to be underfunded, Dean was appointed director of football at Plainmoor. He left the club a few months later - after briefly acting as caretaker-manager for the 3-7 home defeat against Bromley - and established The Orange Wolf football agency (a reference to his Wolves connections) before later serving as manager of Barnstaple Town between October 2019 and September 2021.