Condolences

Cliftonville Football Club offers deepest sympathy to our captain Rory Hale and his brother Ronan following the loss of their grandfather, former Reds striker Danny Hale.

After turning out for the Strollers and Olympic teams, Danny made his senior Reds bow in an Ulster Cup tie with Coleraine at Solitude on August 15, 1959 and his debut strike was the first of 20 goals in 52 appearances for Cliftonville, whom he last represented in a League fixture with Ards on April 29, 1961.

Thereafter, he starred with distinction for Glentoran, Crusaders, Dundalk and Derry City before bringing the curtain down on a memorable career with a spell at Ards in the early 1970s.

The Waterfoot man, who earned three Amateur International caps for Northern Ireland, was the League of Ireland’s Top Goalscorer in the 1966/67 season and claimed the Irish League’s equivalent accolade in 1968/69 and, though he did not enjoy any trophy successes in his time with the Reds, celebrated Intermediate Cup, Ulster Cup and County Antrim Shield triumphs on the domestic scene alongside winning the League of Ireland title, League of Ireland Shield and Top Four Cup with Dundalk.

Fondly recalled by fans of every Club he represented, Danny’s grandsons Rory and Ronan followed in his footsteps when they signed for the Crues, Derry and, of course, Cliftonville, with everyone at Solitude extending condolences to the wider family circle and Danny’s many friends in and outside of football at this very sad time. May he rest in peace.