A bustling and energetic attack leader, Bill Delea constantly harassed opposing defences. He scored twice on his Lancashire Combination début against Fleetwood. Delea took his chance in the first team when Jack Roberts was away on Amateur International duty, scoring two goals in his Football League début. Unfortunately, he cracked his ankle during his final game at Hartlepools, leaving the field early.He had already been handicapped by an injury from a game at Great Harwood and was released at the end of the season. Delea later became the player-manager for the Ford Motor Company team and worked there until his early retirement in 1973. His son, Paul, played for Chelmsford in the Southern League and later managed Heybridge Swifts. In his later years, Delea suffered from severe arthritis.

Profile reproduced with Permission from:
The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F. C., by Michael Braham and Geoff Wilde (Palatine Books, 1995). ISBN 978-1-874181-14-9