Joe Blake
Encyclopedia
John Joseph "Joe" Blake (1882 – 23 February 1931) was an English footballer who played as an outside-forward for Southampton
in the early part of the twentieth century.
, near Sudbury
and played his youth football with the Church of England Young Men's Society before moving to London to train as a draughtsman
. Whilst in London he played as an amateur
for Ilford
and Tottenham Hotspur
(in their Western League
side).
He then took up employment in Cowes
on the Isle of Wight
and turned out for the local team, from where he was invited to make the occasional guest appearance for Southampton
reserves in 1905. Following a move to the Thornycroft shipyard
in Woolston
he was able to play for the "Saints" on a more regular basis, and on 6 October 1906, he was called into the first-team for a Southern League
match against Millwall
. Playing at outside-right, Blake scored in a 5–1 victory, but that was his only appearance that season, during which manager Ernest Arnfield
tried nine different players on the right-wing.
Blake's next appearances came in March/April 1908, when he played three matches at outside-left in place of Bert Hodgkinson
. Equally at home on either wing, Blake was awarded a professional contract in 1908, from when on his appearances were more frequent. In the 1908–09 season, he made twelve appearances, either as cover for Hodgkinson on the right or John Bainbridge
on the left, including twice as inside-left, when he replaced Sam Shearer
.
In September 1909, he took over the outside-left berth from Bob Carter
and became established on the left, making 23 appearances in 1909–10 and missing only five in the 1910–11 season. Being a "fleet footed" winger who "could dribble the ball", Blake's skill and ability to "centre the ball with pin-point exactness" "posed many problems to opponents". Following the arrival of George Handley
in the summer of 1911, Blake missed most of the 1911–12 season, making only thirteen appearances, whilst in 1912–13 Len Andrews
was preferred by new trainer Jimmy McIntyre
, before Blake was recalled in January, with Andrews switching to the right.
At the start of the 1913–14 season, Andrews reverted to outside-left and it was not until October that Blake was recalled, initially replacing Tom Binder
on the right wing for four matches before moving over to the left, with Andrews at inside-left and Sid Kimpton
on the right. Blake retained his place for the rest of the season, but again lost out to Andrews in 1914–15, when he managed only twelve appearances.
During World War I
, Blake's services were required in the Thornycroft shipyard although he did manage 32 appearances in wartime leagues in the early part of the war. Following the resumption of league football after the cessation of hostilities, Blake made one further appearance, on 1 November 1919 in a 3–0 defeat at Crystal Palace
. Having made a total of 154 appearances for the first-team, Blake retired in the summer of 1920 and took up full-time employment with Thornycroft.
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 the early part of the twentieth century.
Football career
Blake was born in Belchamp WalterBelchamp Walter
Belchamp Walter is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. It is located approximately west of Sudbury, Suffolk and is 35km north-northeast from the county town of Chelmsford. It is near Belchamp St Paul and Belchamp Otten. The village is in the district of Braintree and in the...
, near Sudbury
Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, from Colchester and from London.-Early history:...
and played his youth football with the Church of England Young Men's Society before moving to London to train as a draughtsman
Technical drawing
Technical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the act and discipline of composing plans that visually communicate how something functions or has to be constructed.Drafting is the language of industry....
. Whilst in London he played as an amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
for Ilford
Ilford F.C.
Ilford F.C. is a London football club based in Ilford, in Greater London founded in 1987.There was an earlier famous non-league club of the same name, founded in 1881. In 1979, it merged with Leytonstone to...
and Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
(in their Western League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
side).
He then took up employment in Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
and turned out for the local team, from where he was invited to make the occasional guest appearance 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...
reserves in 1905. Following a move to the Thornycroft shipyard
John I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
in Woolston
Woolston, Southampton
Woolston is a suburb of Southampton, Hampshire, located on the eastern bank of the River Itchen. It is bounded by the River Itchen, Hampshire, Sholing, Peartree Green, Itchen and Weston.The area is rich in maritime and aviation history...
he was able to play for the "Saints" on a more regular basis, and on 6 October 1906, he was called into the first-team for a Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
match against Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
. Playing at outside-right, Blake scored in a 5–1 victory, but that was his only appearance that season, during which manager Ernest Arnfield
Ernest Arnfield
Ernest Arnfield was the secretary/manager of Southampton F.C. from 1897 to 1911, and again from 1912 to 1919.-Honours:Southampton*Southern League champions: 1897–98, 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03 and 1903–04*FA Cup finalists: 1900 and 1902-References:...
tried nine different players on the right-wing.
Blake's next appearances came in March/April 1908, when he played three matches at outside-left in place of Bert Hodgkinson
Bert Hodgkinson
For the English footballer of the same name see Bert Hodgkinson Albert Victor Hodgkinson was a Welsh footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in the 1900s, including making one appearance for the Wales national football team in 1908.-Football career:Hodgkinson was born at...
. Equally at home on either wing, Blake was awarded a professional contract in 1908, from when on his appearances were more frequent. In the 1908–09 season, he made twelve appearances, either as cover for Hodgkinson on the right or John Bainbridge
John Bainbridge (footballer)
John Robert Bainbridge was a professional footballer who played as a forward for three Southern League clubs between 1903 and 1910....
on the left, including twice as inside-left, when he replaced Sam Shearer
Sam Shearer
Samuel Shearer was a Scottish footballer who played at inside-forward for Southampton and Bradford Park Avenue in the early 20th century.-Football career:...
.
In September 1909, he took over the outside-left berth from Bob Carter
Robert Carter (footballer)
Robert Carter was an English footballer, nicknamed Toddler because of his small stature. He was the father of footballing legend Raich Carter.-Club career:...
and became established on the left, making 23 appearances in 1909–10 and missing only five in the 1910–11 season. Being a "fleet footed" winger who "could dribble the ball", Blake's skill and ability to "centre the ball with pin-point exactness" "posed many problems to opponents". Following the arrival of George Handley
George Handley (footballer)
George Albert Handley was an English professional footballer who played most of his career as a winger with Bradford City.-Playing career:...
in the summer of 1911, Blake missed most of the 1911–12 season, making only thirteen appearances, whilst in 1912–13 Len Andrews
Len Andrews
Leonard Thomas Alford "Len" Andrews was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. During his career he had two spells with both Southampton and Reading, as well as playing for Watford....
was preferred by new trainer Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
, before Blake was recalled in January, with Andrews switching to the right.
At the start of the 1913–14 season, Andrews reverted to outside-left and it was not until October that Blake was recalled, initially replacing Tom Binder
Tom Binder
Thomas Edwin Binder was an English professional footballer who played as an outside forward for Southampton in the 1910s.-Football career:...
on the right wing for four matches before moving over to the left, with Andrews at inside-left and Sid Kimpton
Sid Kimpton
Gabriel Sibley "Sid" Kimpton, also known as George Kimpton, was an English football player, who spent his entire playing career with Southampton and subsequently became a manager in Europe....
on the right. Blake retained his place for the rest of the season, but again lost out to Andrews in 1914–15, when he managed only twelve appearances.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Blake's services were required in the Thornycroft shipyard although he did manage 32 appearances in wartime leagues in the early part of the war. Following the resumption of league football after the cessation of hostilities, Blake made one further appearance, on 1 November 1919 in a 3–0 defeat at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. Having made a total of 154 appearances for the first-team, Blake retired in the summer of 1920 and took up full-time employment with Thornycroft.