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Dean Hocknell (Darren Morfitt) 1997-1998 The first son of 1970's Dragons’ legend Ken “Sammy” Hocknell, Dean arrived from Newcastle as a teenage apprentice. His mentor and father's old team mate Frank Patcham was so impressed with his skill that soon Dean was awarded captaincy of the youth team. The Hocknell brothers are then in the Harchester youth team together when Sean joins him living at the digs run by Des and Lynette Baker. In October 1997 Dean is given the news by Frank that he is moving up to the First Team, and be managed by Ron Atkinson. Although throwing up with nerves before taking his seat on the bench against Chelsea in the Coca-Cola Cup 3rd Round, Dean scores on his debut to the joy of Frank and his daughter Lucy, whom Dean happens to be dating. When Lucy misses celebrating Dean’s debut that night at Studs, he ends up making out with mystery blonde Georgina on the boardroom table at Addison Road. Unbeknownst to them both, the security officer on duty records their ‘boardroom session’ on tape. Dean is desperate to ditch Georgina before Lucy learns of her existence, even more so when Georgina is revealed to be Chairman Michael Jacobs' daughter, and having just celebrated her sixteenth birthday was underage when Dean slept with her. Dean concentrates on his playing career and Lucy, finding a flat for them to move in together and the two become engaged at the club's Christmas party. But his indiscretions with Georgina come back to haunt him when he learns the tape of them both has found it's way to Fleet Street. The weekend Dean signs his professional contract with Harchester is an eventful one! After scoring, and then getting sent off against Leicester City, Dean is squirming in his seat when Michael plays the infamous tape on the team coach home! Dean is forced to come clean to Lucy, who lets her fiery temper rip and finishes with him. Michael has his revenge by moving in on Lucy and slyly reveals all to Dean, before stating he is contracted to Harchester for the next five years and plans to make his life hell. It turns out to be all of five minutes, as Michael dies from a heart attack and after Georgina miscarries Dean's baby, Stephanie Jacobs sends him on loan off to Italy. When Dean returns the following month, he has a new look about him with a shaven head - and a fiancée in Natalie Moore. Sean is immediately taken with Natalie, before learning she is due to wed his brother, though Natalie goes ahead with her wedding to Dean. In June 1998 new chairman Jerry Block transfers Dean to Galatasaray and he and Natalie leave Harchester. Two months later Natalie makes a suspicious return to Harchester alone. She finds a friend in Lynda Block, who notices Natalie has bruises. When Dean returns to collect his wife, Sean has no idea what his brother has been doing, until after he has already persuaded Natalie into returning to Turkey with Dean. Sean gets to see the damage done by his brother for himself when Natalie returns once again, this time seriously ill and pregnant with Dean’s baby. Although Natalie admits she does want to be with Sean, the two do not stay together. |
