Joe Reader
Encyclopedia
Josiah "Joe" Reader was an English
footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He spent his entire professional career with West Bromwich Albion
and served the club as a player, coach and steward for a total of 65 years.
, where he attended Beeches Road School and St Phillips School. He joined West Bromwich Albion
as an amateur in January 1885 and turned professional in August of the same year. Reader made his league debut in October 1889 in a Division One match away to Aston Villa
. He won an FA Cup winners medal with Albion when they beat Villa 3–0 in the 1892 final
. In 1894 he won his only England
cap, in a 2–2 draw with Ireland in Belfast
. He helped Albion reach the FA Cup Final
once more in 1895, but this time was on the losing side as Aston Villa won 1–0. Following Albion's move to The Hawthorns
in 1900, Reader became the only player to have represented the club in a competitive match at three different grounds, namely Four Acres, Stoney Lane and The Hawthorns. After 370 senior appearances for Albion, Reader retired from playing football due to illness in April 1901. He then took up the role of trainer-coach at the club, and later became a ground steward at The Hawthorns
until 1950. He died in West Bromwich in March 1954, aged 88.
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...
footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He spent his entire professional career with West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and served the club as a player, coach and steward for a total of 65 years.
Biography
Reader was born in West BromwichWest Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
, where he attended Beeches Road School and St Phillips School. He joined West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
as an amateur in January 1885 and turned professional in August of the same year. Reader made his league debut in October 1889 in a Division One match away to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. He won an FA Cup winners medal with Albion when they beat Villa 3–0 in the 1892 final
1892 FA Cup Final
The 1892 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at the Kennington Oval. West Bromwich Albion won 3–0, with goals by Jasper Geddes, Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds...
. In 1894 he won his only 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...
cap, in a 2–2 draw with Ireland in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. He helped Albion reach the FA Cup Final
1895 FA Cup Final
The 1895 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion at Crystal Palace. Aston Villa won 1–0, with Bob Chatt being credited with scoring the fastest goal in FA Cup Final history, scored after just 30 seconds...
once more in 1895, but this time was on the losing side as Aston Villa won 1–0. Following Albion's move to The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
in 1900, Reader became the only player to have represented the club in a competitive match at three different grounds, namely Four Acres, Stoney Lane and The Hawthorns. After 370 senior appearances for Albion, Reader retired from playing football due to illness in April 1901. He then took up the role of trainer-coach at the club, and later became a ground steward at The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
until 1950. He died in West Bromwich in March 1954, aged 88.