He finally left United at the start of season 1978-79, his final goal being a penalty against River Plate of Argentina, in order to play for the Tulsa Roughnecks, where he was nicknamed "the Boomer" for his strong, high arching and accurate passes and shots on goal, in the North American Soccer League.
His strike partnership with Alan Woodward proved effective in the First Division, and Dearden finished as the club's top-scorer in 1971–72 with 16 goals as United posted a tenth place finish.
Alan Moore | Alan Lomax | Alan Alda | Alan Jackson | Alan Shearer | Alan Turing | Alan Greenspan | Alan Autry | Alan Ayckbourn | Alan Jay Lerner | Alan Ridout | Alan Bennett | Alan Arkin | Alan Thicke | Alan K. Simpson | Alan Keyes | The Alan Titchmarsh Show | Alan Whiticker | Alan Jones | Alan | Alan Watts | Alan Rickman | Alan Freed | Alan Clark | Bob Woodward | Alan Price | Alan Hovhaness | Alan Bleasdale | Woodward | Alan Titchmarsh |