Daniel Hale (1 July 1941 – 4 February 2026) was a Northern Irish footballer who played as a forward. He was a prolific goalscorer both in the Irish League and the League of Ireland, becoming top scorer in each league. He netted over 300 times in a career spanning 13 seasons."Dundalk F.C. Who's Who. Danny Hale". Undated, retrieved 16 February 2026
Club career Raised in Carrick Hill in north Belfast, Hale played for St Malachy's, Cranburn Stars, Lisnagarvey Strollers, Cliftonville, Glentoran, Crusaders, Dundalk, Derry City and Ards. His senior debut came at Solitude on 15 August 1959, when he scored for Cliftonville against Coleraine.'Condolences'. Cliftonville FC, 5 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026 He won an Intermediate Cup medal for Glentoran.Ronnie Harper, "Danny — still 'Hale' and hearty". Ireland's Saturday Night, 27 October 1990
At Crusaders, he scored an "incredible" 55 times in the 1965–66 season, which remains a club record. Crusaders later named an enclosure in their North Stand in his honour."Condolences to Family of Danny Hale". Crusaders FC, 5 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026 Hale rates Crusaders' stalwart winger Arthur "Mousey" Brady as one of his very best playing partners.
Following the release of fellow Belfast man Jimmy Hasty by Dundalk,'Stories in Sound. A Diamond in the Rough'. BBC Sounds, 12 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2026 Hale was persuaded by manager Alan Fox to come south and become the team's centre forward. He was joint top scorer in the League of Ireland in the 1966–67 season, with 15 goals, as Dundalk became league champions. In 1967, Hale scored in Hungary for Dundalk, becoming the first Irishman to score behind the Iron Curtain. He was the supporters' player of the year that season.Colm Murphy, "Danny Hale R.I.P.". Dundalk F.C., 5 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026 At Dundalk, his nickname was "Red Sand Dan". Hale trained in Belfast while playing for Dundalk.
Hale scored 104 goals in three seasons of "very happy memories" at Derry City from 1969 to 1971 (45, 25, 34). His 45 goals in 1968–69 remain a record for the club."Passing of Danny Hale". Derry City FC, 5 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026 Twenty-one league goals made him top goalscorer in the Irish League, with Derry finishing runners-up."Tributes paid to goalscoring legend Danny Hale following his passing". Derry Now, 6 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026 He was part of the Derry City team that reached the Irish Cup final in 1971.'Derry City's new signing follows in legendary grandad's footsteps - 40 year on!'. News Letter, 10 November 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2026 Hale's favourite goal for Derry was scored against Coleraine in the North-West Cup."Favourite Brandywell Memories. Danny Hale". Derry City FC, 17 November 2017, retrieved 16 February 2026 His most difficult centre-half opponent was Davy Jackson of Coleraine.
International career Hale won three caps with Northern Ireland amateur national team.
Style of play One journalist who saw Hale wrote: 'He didn't score beautiful goals ... No, Danny was a penalty box player, a "sniffer", as they were called. A player with an instinct for goals ... goals were his bread and butter. Danny, at the level he played north and south of the border, was one of the best in the game'.Kevin Mulligan, "Remembering Danny Hale, a Dundalk goal scoring legend". Irish Independent, 9 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026
Personal life and death Educated by the Christian Brothers, Hale worked as a chemist's message boy in the 1950s; a contemporary recalled that he played Gaelic football and hurling for the Pearse's Club and was a swimmer and runner. Hale had two elder brothers, Gerry and Jackie, who played for Crusaders before him; his grandsons Rory and Ronan would also represent the club. He married Kathleen and they had three children: Gerard who pre-deceased him, Kathy and Danny. He was a grandfather and great-grandfather. After football, Hale worked as an upholstering instructor, in which profession he had served his time. For many years, Hale organised trips with the New Lodge Celtic Club based originally in the Circle club to see his favourite team Celtic in Glasgow. He was honorary president of Newington Football Club.Gerry Malone, "The Commentary Box: Dundalk must focus on Derry game". Dundalk Democrat, 11 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026 His son Danny Jnr played for Distillery. In May 2024, Hale was in the stand as footballer-grandsons Rory and Ronan helped Cliftonville win the Irish Cup.Johnny Morton, "'Nothing I say or do could ever repay the life you have given me': Rory Hale pays tribute to grandfather - and former Irish League striker - Danny after passing". News Letter, 5 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026
Hale died at home in Eia Street, Belfast, on 4 February 2026, at the age of 84.Graham Luney, 'Irish League clubs lead tributes after passing of goalscoring great Danny Hale'. Belfast Telegraph, 5 February 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026 Hundreds of mourners attended Hale's funeral Mass in Holy Family Catholic Church, Newington, on 11 Feb. 2026, where grandsons Rory and Ronan led the prayers of the faithful.Graham Luney, "Irish League clubs lead tributes after passing of goalscoring great Danny Hale". Belfast Telegraph, 5 February 2026 Tributes paid to Hale attested to the high regard in which he was held throughout football."Glentoran pays tribute to former player Danny Hale". Glentoran FC, 8 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026
References
External links 'Stories in Sound. A Diamond in the Rough' (Hale interviewed in 2015)