Dale Binns is someone who began his career as a teenager at Hendon and who has since gone on to become a most respected player and a fan favourite where ever he has been.

He made his debut more than three months before his 18th birthday, a second half substitute replacing Steve Bateman, who had won an Isthmian League winner's medal before Dale's third birthday. There was not much to the teenager, quiet to the point on introverted off the pitch, but a livewire on it. A flying winger, he terrified defences with his extreme pace, but he had to wait a number of years before he nailed down a first-team place.

His first manager, Frank Murphy, who had played in Dale's debut, was infatuated with his game-changing speed and it meant that 43 of the 83 appearances he made in the 1999-2000 and 200-–01 seasons were as a substitute, taking advantage of tiring defenders. Dale's first start was overshadowed by Bontcho Guentchev, also in his first start for the Greens and the spectacular overhead scissors kick in the 3-2 defeat of Canvey Island. It is hard to imagine two more different football characters than Dale and Bontcho, but the former learned a huge amount from the latter. The 1999-2000 season saw Hendon reach the second round of the FA Cup and Dale started in three of the first four matches, coming off the bench in the defeat of Margate. In the first round victory at Bath City, he was Hendon's brightest attacking force for much of the game before late goals from Dominic Gentle and Guentchev won the tie. It was something of a surprise Dale was omitted for the game at Blackpool, won 2-0 by the Tangerines. Three weeks later, Dale scored his first Hendon goal, the fourth in a 4-3 win at home to Basingstoke, and he was on the scoresheet again a week later at Aylesbury.

Murphy's last season at Claremont Road was Dale's most productive and he netted 18 goals in 50 appearances, 22 of which were as substitute and he scored the last goal of the weather-accursed curtailed campaign. It should also be noted, Dale - who won the Supporters Association Player of the Year Award - played in all 19 of the League matches between 3 March and 5 May. Under Dave Anderson, Hendon's football was less expansive, but Dale was a key component, starting 43 matches and only David Hook and Simon Clarke (40 apiece) appeared in more than his 39 League games. His nine goals were also second at the club and included two, off the bench, when the Greens came from 4-3 down to beat Billericay 6-4 at New Lodge. At the end of the season, Dale won his first medal with Hendon, in the Middlesex Senior Cup, and he netted the last goal as the Greens beat Northwood 4-2 after extra time at Hayes.

Dale's style of play left him susceptible to injuries and in 2002-03 he suffered a groin injury in the 4-4 draw at Canvey Island and missed three months. In terms of League position, this was Hendon's best season since 1973-74, with the Greens finishing third. And there was more silverware too, the Middlesex Senior Cup being retained with a 2-0 defeat of Enfield Town at Northwood. More than half of Dale's 35 appearances (20) in 2003-04 were as a replacement, but this was because his fitness was monitored much more closely and risks simply weren't taken when he wasn't 100 percent. The Greens finished closer the League champions than they had 12 months earlier but finished one place lower. If Hendon won the last game, at Kettering, they would have been runners-up, and if Dale hadn't been suspended, it might have been different. These are ifs and buts, and, sadly, it was buts that were Dale's downfall because, in the Middlesex Senior Cup final victory over Uxbridge at Yeading, he had lowered his head towards John Swift and been sent off.

Before the start of the following season, most of the Hendon playing and management staff decamped to AFC Wimbledon, but Dale didn't. However, the fact that Hendon had decided against taking their place in the new Conference South, and the way that new manager Tony Choules wanted him to play, meant that after 45 minutes of a friendly at Berkhamsted - he wore the No. 3 shirt - Dale elected to move on. Since then, Dale has played at the highest level of non-league football for a number of clubs, but he still pays an occasional visit and - although he's nearly 34 years old - has not ruled out a return to the club where it all began for him.

Joined Hendon: 1998. Left Hendon: 2004
Appearances: 212 (118 starts, 84 as a substitute). Goals: 41
Supporters Association Player of the Year: 2000-01
Medals won: Middlesex Senior Cup: 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03