Dickie Dale (footballer)

[5] Dale played for Stanley United, North Walbottle and West Hartlepool[1] before joining Football League First Division club Birmingham on trial in March 1922.

The trial proved successful, he made his Football League debut on 6 September 1922 in a goalless draw away to Newcastle United, and, according to the Athletic News in March 1924, he "gave such a sound and, indeed, striking display, even at left half-back, that he has been considered a regular member of the side ever since.

A few weeks later, after more injuries left a vacancy at right half, Dale "demonstrated his versatility by at once falling into the position",[6] and held it until mid-March 1923 when Jimmy Daws came back into the team.

He had played 151 matches in League and FA Cup but, despite the Sports Argus correspondent's view some four years earlier that he was "fast developing into a good shot",[16] never scored.

[1] Second Division club West Bromwich Albion, who were in dire need of a half-back, – they had three left halves on the books, all of whom were unfit[4] – paid "just over two thousand pounds" for Dale's services,[17] and put him straight into their League eleven.