Ken Hale: Tireless forward signed by Coventry City manager Jimmy Hill in 1961 as part of his Sky Blue revolution

Hale (front row, second left) was a skilful and perceptive manipulator of the ball and was endowed with seemingly endless stamina

Coventry City Football Club, back row, left to right; Brian Hill, John Mitten, Alan Harris, Ron Farmer and Dietmar Bruck. Middle row; George Curtis, Kenneth Keyworth, Bob Wesson, Bill Glazier, Mick Kearns, and John Sillett. Front row; Ronald Rees, Ken Hal (PA Archive/Press Association Images)

Ken Hale was a key component of Jimmy Hill’s 1960s Sky Blue revolution at Coventry City which transformed the Midlanders from lower-division plodders into a vibrant force which reached the top flight of English football.

When the far-sighted, entrepreneurial Hill took over as Highfield Road boss in December 1961, he was swift to recognise the need for players of superior quality – and a year later he found one in Hale, paying Newcastle £10,000 for the classy inside-forward.

The diminutive, blond north-easterner was a skilful and perceptive manipulator of the ball, packed a fulminating shot and was endowed with seemingly endless stamina. Having joined the Magpies in 1956, Hale understudied thoroughbreds George Eastham and Ivor Allchurch, yet still contributed 15 goals in 30 League outings.

However, he was surplus to manager Joe Harvey’s plans, and that proved to be Coventry’s gain. As part of a potent attack alongside spearhead George Hudson, he netted 16 times as Hill’s enterprising side, now resplendent in sky blue, won the Third Division title in 1963-64.

Hale remained influential as City consolidated impressively at the higher level, but when Hill opted for a re-model he was sold to Oxford United for £5,000 in March 1966.

He collected another third-flight title medal in 1967-68, then played four seasons for Darlington and two for Halifax Town, totalling more than 450 senior appearances and netting nearly a century of goals for his five clubs before laying aside his boots in 1974.

Kenneth Oliver Hale, footballer; born Blyth, Northumberland 18 September 1939; played for Newcastle United 1956-62, Coventry City 1962-66, Oxford United 1966-68, Darlington 1968-72, Halifax Town 1972-74; managed Darlington (caretaker) 1972, Hartlepool 1974-76; died 6 January 2015.