The magic man is here. Hall Road Rangers attacker Joe Dale is the latest subject of our weekly Player Profile feature.
Best known for his days banging in the goals for Christian Fox and the swashbuckling Selby Town side of 2017/18, Dale has a few interesting tidbits from his short Non League career which incredibly only began in February 2017 at the age of 26.
Name
Joe Dale
Age
29
Previous Clubs
North Ferriby, Selby Town, Pickering Town
Day Job
PE Teacher
Best Mate in Football
Nick Thompson – played together at Pickering but went to school together and were actually born on the same day. Still probably one of the best players I’ve played with.
Interesting Little Fact
I also went to school with Tom Corner. We had a class football team. The schoolboys team when we were younger as well had Nick, Tom, Ryan Qualter, Dean Lisles and Jamie Hopcutt and they’ve all done pretty well in football.
Team You Support
Celtic
Football Idol
Henrik Larsson
Biggest Influence on Footballing Career
Easily my Dad – coached the younger age groups that I played and then also took the schoolboy teams through the age groups in York. He used to play a bit and by all accounts was half decent but most of those accounts are from his mates down the pub. But I also owe a lot to all the managers that I’ve played under. Paul Marshall gave me my first chance playing at Pickering. My best year to date came under Christian Fox in 2017. I think I scored 28 goals in league that year. Foxy just gave us the freedom to attack and I went on a good goal scoring run. I definitely learnt the most under Chris Bolder and Robbo (Paul Robson) at Ferriby. We had such a brilliant squad of players (Tom Corner, Jamie Forrester, Luke Lofts, Danny Emerton. I couldn’t actually believe I got in the side.
Description of Career Highlight
Beating Tadcaster Albion 2-0 at Selby in the West Riding Cup semi-final in 2018. They were a good side and we were massive underdogs but played really well on the night. I got the first goal from a massive long ball and Liam Flanagan scored a brilliant solo goal.
Lowest Moment in Football
Not getting promoted at Selby in the first season (2017/18) that Christian Fox took over. We had a such a good side, Charlie Clamp, Ryan Gothard and I played up top with Liam Flanagan and Casey Stewart. That year I think Carl Stewart and Danny Gray also played for us and we really should have got promoted. We went about 15 games unbeaten with 9 or 10 wins in a row. The weather probably cost us that year as we had 11/12 games called off and we’re playing 4 games in a week by the end of the season.
Description of Most Memorable Match
One of the most memorable is the North Riding Cup Semi Final for Pickering against Scarborough (in 2017). We went down to 10 men in first half when Niall Tilsley got sent off and I went back to left back. I got dragged by Marshy two minutes after and it turned out to be a great decision because Nath Kamara won us the game 1-0. Selfishly I would also have to say an away game at Rossington Main for Selby. We won 5-0, I got 4 and the other was an own goal from my deflected shot. There was a doubt whether it would go ahead because the pitch was frozen and they actually tried to get the game called off at half time! We were 3-0 up and thankfully the ref let the game finish.
Funniest Moment in Football
It wasn’t funny at the time but I scored on my debut for Ferriby and the floodlights went out. I couldn’t believe it because a couple of weeks later we went to Ollerton and I scored there and the lights went out again! It took 3 attempts to get my first goal for them!
First semi-professional manager and club
Paul Marshall at Pickering Town. I was playing for a Poppleton United in the York Prem and scoring a few goals and I always used to wind him up saying if you need a goal scorer let me know. I played cricket with his son Charlie so I used to say it to him a lot. After about 2 years he gave me a ring and I joined Pickering in the January and finished the season there. That was the year we got to the North Riding Cup final but I had little part to play in that.
Non League Debut
For Pickering at home to Garforth. Marshy started me at left wing back in a 3-5-2. I scored just before half time and I think we ended up winning the game 2-0. We had some quality players, Nick Tommo, Ryan Blott, Joe Danby, George Bissett to name a few. I think Pickering got promoted the year after.
Description of First Red Card
The only one. It was against Staveley playing for Selby in the FA Vase. It was an absolute horror challenge but I’d actually gone to block a clearance and the defender took an extra step and I went straight into him with two feet! There’s a picture out there somewhere!
Description of First Goal (at semi-professional level):
In my debut for Pickering the Garforth full back made a mistake on the halfway line and as I ran on to the ball there was just the keeper to beat. I slotted it past him and remember running past a camera celebrating. I think that is floating around somewhere as well.
What do you want to achieve in football in the future
I’d like to play for as long as I can and enjoy my football. I’m really enjoying playing for Hall Road at the moment, they are a great set of lads and it’s just round the corner from my house so it’s nice and easy. I’ve travelled a lot with football and cricket over the years so it’s nice to have the ground on my doorstep.
Favourite Non League Ground I’ve played at (barring your own club)
I know I’ve played for them but I’d have to say North Ferriby. It’s definitely one of the best pitches I’ve played on. I played for Selby there in the league cup, scored in normal time and then their winning penalty. Two games later and I’d signed for them. It wasn’t just because of the pitch.
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