Alfie Hale

Waterford

Hale later joined Waterford A.F.C., a club where he would go on to spend much of his playing and coaching career. At the age of seventeen, Hale, along with Peter Fitzgerald, made a League of Ireland scoring debut at Kilcohan Park on St Patrick's Day 1957 in a 3–1 win over Bohemians. Hale was selected again, 24 hours later, for Waterford's game against Evergreen United in the Munster Senior Cup final. Waterford won the match 5–1 with Hale contributing two goals and an assist. Sources have stated that Hale scored a brace on his home debut against Bohemians, that the match took place on Easter Sunday in 1958 and that the Munster Cup final came against Cork Hibernians where he scored a hat-trick. However, newspapers at the time contradict this version of events, detailing Hale's debut in 1957, Waterford's loss to Transport on Easter Sunday 1958 and Waterford's loss to Limerick in the 1958 Munster Senior Cup semi-final. Hale joined a team that already featured his brothers, Dixie Hale and George Hale, who protected the youngster as he established himself as a prolific goalscorer and important player. Although George would depart for Cork Hibernians by December 1957, the following season Waterford appointed their first professional manager in Alex Stevenson. Hale credits Stevenson — an ex-Everton and Rangers player who was also a former Irish international — with playing a big part in his development. However, Hale suffered his first setback as, ten days before…

Between 1962 and 1973, Hale made 14 appearances and scored two goals for the Republic of Ireland national football team. He made his senior international debut on 8 April 1962 in a 3–2 home defeat against Austria. Hale was making his first start alongside another debutant, Tony Dunne, with both men deployed on the right flank; Dunne at right back and Hale on the right wing. Hale's second cap came a few months later, a 4–2 victory at home to Iceland. Hale went on to score twice for the Republic of Ireland, both goals coming in 1968, against Poland and then Austria. He made his last appearance for the Republic of Ireland on 21 October 1973 as a substitute in a 1–0 home win against Poland.

Hale would return to Waterford F.C. as a manager for two further spells. His first tenure at the club, newly renamed to Waterford United, began in 1982 and lasted until 1986. In this time, he guided the club to victory in the League of Ireland Cup in 1985 and to the FAI Cup final in 1986. He returned to manage the club again between 1991 and 1993 and helped them achieve promotion from the First Division in 1992. In 2005, he briefly returned to Waterford United once again, this time acting as special advisor. Aside from Waterford, Hale has also coached several other teams in the League of Ireland. He was appointed player/manager of Thurles Town in May 1981 where he made history by becoming the League of Ireland's oldest ever goalscorer, and also the only player to score in four different League of Ireland decades. As manager of Cobh Ramblers, Hale signed Roy Keane upon the recommendation of youth team coach, Eddie O'Rourke.

Between 1995 and 1999 he was manager of Kilkenny City and in 1997, with a team that included his nephew Richie Hale, Brendan Rea, Paul Cashin and Pascal Keane, he guided them to the First Division title. After leaving Kilkenny, Hale remained active in junior football working with Waterford Crystal F.C. and Tramore F.C, winning the first league in 50 years with Tramore in 2000–01.

Alfie Hale was born on 28 August 1939. The youngest of five boys, he grew up on Ard na Gréine road in Waterford. Although he lived next door to Waterford's hurling pitch, Walsh Park, his family were all footballers. Hale's father, Alfie Snr, and his uncles, Tom and John, all played in the half-back line for Waterford in the 1930s. Alfie's brothers Georgie, Dixie and Harry all played for Waterford A.F.C. as well as various grades at international level. Hale joined his local club St Joseph’s and, although the youngest grade at the time was under-15, he began playing at ten years old.