Bernard Joy
Encyclopedia
Bernard Joy was an English
football
er and journalist. He is notable for being the last amateur player to play for the England national football team
.
, London
and studied at the University of London
, playing in his spare time for the university football side at centre half. After graduating, he played for Casuals
, where he eventually became club captain, leading them to victory in the 1936 FA Amateur Cup
final. He also won ten caps for the England amateur team
and was captain of the Great Britain football side at the 1936 Olympics
in Berlin
. Bernard was father to Christopher Margaret and Karen Joy.
While still registered as a Casuals player, Joy also played for several other clubs in an amateur capacity, including Southend United
(1931–33) and Fulham
(1933–34). In May 1935 he joined Arsenal
, then First Division
champions. Joy mainly played as a reserve, only playing two games in his first season – he didn't make his debut for Arsenal until 1 April 1936 against Bolton Wanderers
. Arsenal won the FA Cup
that season but Joy played no part in the final.
However, he did gain recognition at international level soon after, when on 9 May 1936, he played for England
in their 3-2 loss against Belgium, making him the last amateur to play for the national side; given the gulf in quality between the professional and amateur games in the modern day, it is exceedingly unlikely Joy's record will ever be taken by another player. Although Joy was playing for Arsenal at the time, he was still registered as a Casuals player and he is recorded in the England history books as playing for them at the time, not Arsenal.
Joy continued to play for Arsenal, mainly deputising for the Gunners' established centre-half Herbie Roberts
. Roberts suffered a broken leg in October 1937 and Joy took his place in the side for the remainder of the 1937-38
season, winning a First Division winners' medal, and then, with Roberts having retired from the game, on through the 1938-39
season (earning a 1938 Charity Shield winners' medal in the process).
With the advent of World War II
, Joy signed up to join the Royal Air Force
where he was an PE Instructor, though he still turned out for Arsenal (playing over 200 wartime matches) and won an unofficial wartime England cap. In June 1940, he was one of five Arsenal players who guested for Southampton
in a victory over Fulham
at Craven Cottage
.
He also appeared as a guest player for West Ham United
later in World War II making two appearances.
When peace broke out and first-class football resumed, he played the first half of the 1946-47
season before deciding that his age (35) was counting against him; he retired from top-flight football in December 1946, though he carried on playing for Casuals until 1948. In all, he played 95 first-class (i.e. non-wartime) matches for Arsenal, though he never scored a goal.
Before the war Joy was a teacher
, but afterwards he decided not to return to the profession and moved into journalism
; he was football correspondent for the Evening Standard
and the Sunday Express until retirement in 1976. He also wrote one of the first histories of Arsenal Football Club, Forward, Arsenal! (1952), and several other football books. He died in 1984, aged 72 of cancer. He often held dinner parties at his house in Osterley where many footballing celebrities would attend.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er and journalist. He is notable for being the last amateur player to play for the England national football team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Biography
Joy was born in FulhamFulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and studied at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, playing in his spare time for the university football side at centre half. After graduating, he played for Casuals
Casuals F.C.
Casuals F.C. were an amateur football club based in London, formed in 1878.They were founder members of the Isthmian League in 1905 and won the FA Amateur Cup in 1936....
, where he eventually became club captain, leading them to victory in the 1936 FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
final. He also won ten caps for the England amateur team
England national amateur football team
The England national amateur football team was the amateur representative team for England at football. It was formed in 1906, due to the growth of the professional game which meant that amateur players could no longer easily find places in the main England national team.-First match and unbeaten...
and was captain of the Great Britain football side at the 1936 Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Bernard was father to Christopher Margaret and Karen Joy.
While still registered as a Casuals player, Joy also played for several other clubs in an amateur capacity, including Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
(1931–33) and Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
(1933–34). In May 1935 he joined Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, then First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
champions. Joy mainly played as a reserve, only playing two games in his first season – he didn't make his debut for Arsenal until 1 April 1936 against Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. Arsenal won the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
that season but Joy played no part in the final.
However, he did gain recognition at international level soon after, when on 9 May 1936, he played for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in their 3-2 loss against Belgium, making him the last amateur to play for the national side; given the gulf in quality between the professional and amateur games in the modern day, it is exceedingly unlikely Joy's record will ever be taken by another player. Although Joy was playing for Arsenal at the time, he was still registered as a Casuals player and he is recorded in the England history books as playing for them at the time, not Arsenal.
Joy continued to play for Arsenal, mainly deputising for the Gunners' established centre-half Herbie Roberts
Herbie Roberts
Herbert "Herbie" Roberts was an English football player.-Playing career:Born in Oswestry, Shropshire, Roberts first played as an amateur for his local club Oswestry Town, whilst working as a policeman. A tall, but quiet and unassuming right half, he was signed by Herbert Chapman's Arsenal in...
. Roberts suffered a broken leg in October 1937 and Joy took his place in the side for the remainder of the 1937-38
1937-38 in English football
The 1937–38 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season is notable as the reigning champions Manchester City became the only team to have won the League title one season then been relegated the next.-Honours:...
season, winning a First Division winners' medal, and then, with Roberts having retired from the game, on through the 1938-39
1938-39 in English football
The 1938–39 season was the 64th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season (earning a 1938 Charity Shield winners' medal in the process).
With the advent of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Joy signed up to join the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
where he was an PE Instructor, though he still turned out for Arsenal (playing over 200 wartime matches) and won an unofficial wartime England cap. In June 1940, he was one of five Arsenal players who guested for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in a victory over Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
.
He also appeared as a guest player for West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
later in World War II making two appearances.
When peace broke out and first-class football resumed, he played the first half of the 1946-47
1946-47 in English football
The 1946–47 season was the 67th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1946–47 season was the first to feature a full football programme since the 1938–39 campaign. Eighty-eight teams competed over four divisions. Liverpool went top of the First Division with a 2–1 away win over...
season before deciding that his age (35) was counting against him; he retired from top-flight football in December 1946, though he carried on playing for Casuals until 1948. In all, he played 95 first-class (i.e. non-wartime) matches for Arsenal, though he never scored a goal.
Before the war Joy was a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, but afterwards he decided not to return to the profession and moved into journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
; he was football correspondent for the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
and the Sunday Express until retirement in 1976. He also wrote one of the first histories of Arsenal Football Club, Forward, Arsenal! (1952), and several other football books. He died in 1984, aged 72 of cancer. He often held dinner parties at his house in Osterley where many footballing celebrities would attend.
With Arsenal
Winner:- First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
: 1937-381937-38 in English footballThe 1937–38 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season is notable as the reigning champions Manchester City became the only team to have won the League title one season then been relegated the next.-Honours:... - FA Charity Shield (now the FA Community ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
): 19381998 FA Charity ShieldThe 1998 FA Charity Shield was the 76th FA Charity Shield, an annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup competitions. The match was played contested by Arsenal, who won the league and cup Double the previous season, and Manchester United,...