Carl Dale, who had scored over a hundred Football League goals for Chester and Cardiff, had a short trial with Exeter City in the summer of 1998. 

Playing in North Wales for Conway United, Rhyl and Bangor City between 1983 and 1988, he signed for Football League club Chester City for a £12,000 fee in May 1988. Remaining at Sealand Road for three seasons, Carl netted forty times from 116 league outings before moving south to Cardiff City in a £82,000 deal in 1991. 

Enjoying a similar strike rate at Ninian Park he made 213 league appearances over following seven seasons, scoring on 71 occasions, before leaving on a free transfer at the end of the 1997/98 campaign. 

Now aged thirty-two, he was without an immediate contract offer for the new season and arrived at St James’ Park in an effort to remain in the professional game. Appearing in a number of pre-season games Carl was unsuccessful in his quest and moved into non-league football with Yeovil Town before heading back to South Wales to play for newly-renamed Newport County who were then bidding to climb the leagues.