Right back Daniel Dodds spent his early footballing years at Middlesbrough, where he was a regular at youth level before signing professional terms in 2020. Considered a bright prospect for the future, but with established players blocking his immediate route to the first team, Dodds was allowed to go out on loan to Darlington in the National League North. His performances with the Quakers were impressive enough to fuel speculation that Boro would recall him in order to loan him out at a higher level, but Hartlepool acted instead to sign him on a permanent deal in January 2023.