[2] Dainty was born in Geddington, Northamptonshire and started his playing career with local club Kettering.
[2] At the end of the 1900–01, despite finishing in a creditable fourth place, New Brighton Tower folded and Dainty returned to Leicester Fosse.
His transient lifestyle continued when he joined Notts County at the end of the 1902–03 season to play for the first time in the First Division of the Football League.
[4][5] A two-year spell at Bradford Park Avenue followed before moving back to Scotland in October 1913 to join Ayr United, where he served as player/manager.
Dainty relinquished managerial duties in 1917 and retired from playing the following year, staying at the club as secretary and then briefly in 1922 as chairman.