Ronan Hale scores twice for Gillingham just days after the death of his grandfather Danny Hale, a former Irish League striker nicknamed Red Sand Dan

Gillingham goalscorer Ronan Hale dedicated his weekend double to his grandfather, who died earlier this week.

Former Irish League striker Danny Hale has been described as a hero by Gillingham’s newly signed striker Ronan.

Hale’s grandfather Danny died on Thursday, at the age of 84. He’d won three amateur international caps for Northern Ireland after scoring over 300 goals in a career that included a prolific four-season spell at Crusaders, where he managed 55 goals in the 1965/66 season.

Ronan Hale’s goals in Scotland earned him a move to Gillingham and he scored his first for the club on Saturday in a 2-1 win over Tranmere.

“He was my hero,” said Ronan. “To score two goals two days after it happened, he was definitely watching down on me. He'd be buzzing.

“I've had a tough week, but I know he'll be watching down, and getting those two goals would have been massive.

“He would have been raging if I didn't [score them]. He would have been straight on to me if I didn't bury those chances.

“Those two goals were for him.”

Goalscoring is clearly in the genes.

Ronan said: “They called him Red Sand Dan because he never left the six-yard box, that's where all his goals came from. He'd be happy with my two goals.

“We always joked about who was the best striker, and he definitely takes it!

“He was the first Hale to score in Europe, and I kept going on that I was the last Hale to score in Europe! He'd be proud.”

Ronan scored for Cliftonville in the Europa Conference League and continued his goalscoring exploits in the top two tiers of Scottish football at Ross County.

His brother Rory also played this weekend, coming off the bench to help his Cliftonville team to a comeback win in the Irish Cup against Glenavon.

Gills’ striker Ronan