Billy Dare

William Thomas Charles 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]

Billy Dare
Dare with West Ham United
Personal information
Full name William Thomas Charles Dare[1]
Date of birth (1927-02-14)14 February 1927
Place of birth Willesden, England
Date of death 8 May 1994(1994-05-08) (aged 67)[1]
Place of death Hillingdon, England[1]
Position(s) 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

Dare was born in Willesden, London and started his footballing career with Hendon. He played only 10 games for Hendon, starting with his debut game on 11 September 1948 against Leyton, but managed eight goals.[4][5] He joined Brentford in 1948, where he was teammates with Ron Greenwood. His Brentford debut came on 12 March 1949 against Luton Town.[6] He made 208 league appearances and 222 in all competitions,[7] before joining West Ham United for £5,000 in 1955.[8]

A prolific goal scorer, Dare scored 52 goals in 125 games in all competitions for West Ham United. He made his Hammers 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.[9] His 25 goals in all competitions in 1955–56 made him the club's highest scorer for that season.[10]

Dare, playing alongside Johnny Dick and Vic Keeble, played in the club's Second Division championship-winning season of 1957–58. Dare contributed 14 league goals, including one hat-trick in a 3–2 defeat of Bristol Rovers at Eastville on 31 August 1957,[11] to a campaign in which West Ham scored 101 league goals.[12] However, the now ageing forward struggled at the higher level, and Dare played only two games between February 1958 and April 1959 before his transfer in 1959.[8][9]

The 1959–60 season saw Dare play for Southern League team Yiewsley, where he played under Bill Dodgin, Sr. and later Jackie Milburn.[13][8] He served as manager of Spartan League side Ruislip Manor in the mid-1960s.[14]

Honours

Player

West Ham United

References
  1. "Billy Dare". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  2. Smith, Trevor (4 November 2010). "Hammers Malcolm gave Billy the shakes". Newham, London. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  3. "Back issues". www.ex-hammers.com. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  4. "Former Staff – Billy Dare". www.hendonfc.net. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  5. "Billy Dare at Neil Brown". www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  6. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 380. ISBN 0951526200.
  7. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 45. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  8. Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media. p. 77. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
  9. "West Ham stats – Billy Dare". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  10. "2nd Division 1955–56". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  11. "Game played 31 August 1957". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  12. "2nd Division 1957–58". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  13. "Southern League History (6B): Into the 50s & 60s" (PDF). The Field Review: Mangotsfield United FC v Taunton Town (23 ed.). 11 April 2015. p. 17.
  14. Official Matchday Magazine Of Brentford Football Club versus Preston North End 25/09/99. Blackheath: Morganprint. 1999. p. 41.
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