Billy Dare
 Dare with West Ham United | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Thomas Charles Dare[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 14 February 1927 | ||
| Place of birth | Willesden, England | ||
| Date of death | 8 May 1994 (aged 67)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Hillingdon, England[1] | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1948 | Hendon | 5 | (4) |
| 1948–1955 | Brentford | 208 | (62) |
| 1955–1959 | West Ham United | 111 | (44) |
| 1959–? | Yiewsley | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| Ruislip Manor | |||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Billy Dare (14 February 1927 – 8 May 1994) was an English footballer who played as a forward. He was described as "gutsy" and as a "stocky little battler"[2] and was the first ever footballer to sign for a club on live television.[3]
Dare was born in Willesden, London and started his footballing career with Hendon before joining Brentford in 1948. He played only ten games for Hendon, starting with his debut game on 11 September 1948 against Leyton 1868, but managed eight goals.[4][5] His Brentford came on 12 March 1949 against Luton Town.[6] He made 208 league appearances and 222 in all competitions,[6] before joining West Ham United for £5,000 in 1955.
He made his West Ham debut on 5 March 1955 in a 2-1 home win against Leeds United. His first goal didn't come until two games later, on 19 March 1955, in a 2-1 home defeat of Middlesbrough.[7] His 25 goals in all competitions in 1955-56 made him the club's highest scorer for that season.[8] Dare, playing alongside Johnny Dick and Vic Keeble, played in the club's Second Division championship season of 1957-58, Dare contributing 14 league goals in a season in which West Ham scored 101 league goals.[9] A prolific goal scorer, he played 111 league games for the club, scoring 44 goals with 52 goals scored in 125 games in all competitions including one hat-trick in a 3-2 defeat of Bristol Rovers at Eastville on 31 August 1957.[10] Dare played only two games between February 1958 and April 1959 before his transfer 1959.[7]
Dare later played for Southern League team Yiewsley, where he played under Bill Dodgin, Sr. and later Jackie Milburn. He served as manager of Spartan League side Ruislip Manor in the mid-1960s.[11]
Honours
Player
West Ham United
References
- 1 2 3 "Billy Dare". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ↑ Smith, Trevor (4 November 2010). "Hammers Malcolm gave Billy the shakes". Newham, London. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- ↑ "Back issues". www.ex-hammers.com. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- ↑ "Former Staff - Billy Dare". www.hendonfc.net. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- ↑ "Billy Dare at Neil Brown". www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- 1 2 "Profile - Billy Dare". www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- 1 2 "West Ham stats - Billy Dare". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- ↑ "2nd Division 1955-56". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- ↑ "2nd Division 1957-58". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- ↑ "Game played 31 August 1957". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- ↑ Official Matchday Magazine Of Brentford Football Club versus Preston North End 25/09/99. Blackheath: Morganprint. 1999. p. 41.
External links
- Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media. p. 77. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
- Billy Dare, Ken Tucker, Albert Foan, John Dick. Pathe News Spurs V. West Ham 3 - 3 1956 (Newsreel). www.britishpathe.com.