Billy Dale joined Southport on a two-month trial after spending three seasons with Halifax Town, where he scored 16 goals in 69 League games, featuring primarily as an outside-right. Despite being advised to retire after chipping a bone in his right leg, Dale was signed for the remainder of the season following his trial. His performance improved dramatically when switched to outside-left by Gordon Hunt, and his bold raids and fleet-footed dashes down the left wing became a key feature.Unfortunately, Dale’s career with Southport was cut short when he broke his leg during a collision with trainer Bob Jones in a practice match on 1 December 1953. He had a brief trial with Accrington Stanley, scoring 3 goals in 4 appearances for Crewe Alexandra, but was not offered a permanent contract. While with Southport, he also played table tennis for the YMCA in the local league. He married a Southport girl and later returned to Doncaster, emigrating to Sydney in 1978, where he still resides.

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