John Joyce (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John William Joyce was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs between 1898 and 1920. Throughout his career, he was known to supporters as "Tiny" in allusion to his size, being 6 feet tall and weighing 14 stone.
, Staffordshire
and started his football career with his home-town club, Burton Pioneers, before spells with two clubs in neighbouring Derbyshire
, Woodville
and Overseal
Town. Whilst playing for Overseal Town, he was spotted by scouts from Southern League
champions Southampton
, for whom he was signed for a fee of £80.
Joyce, together with his Overseal team-mate, Sid Cavendish
, joined the "Saints" in May 1898 and made his debut against Warmley
in December 1898, but Warmley shortly afterwards withdrew from the league and their record was expunged. As a result, Joyce's "official" debut was delayed until 21 October 1899, in a 5–1 victory over Queens Park Rangers
. At Southampton, Joyce was an understudy to England
international Jack Robinson
and Robinson's form meant that Joyce's first-team opportunities were rare. Nonetheless, he was a useful goalkeeper to have in reserve and was able to use his bulk to punt the ball upfield further than any other contemporary goalkeeper. After seven Southern League appearances, in May 1900 Joyce moved to fellow Southern League club Millwall Athletic in search of regular first team football.
After a season with Millwall, Joyce returned to his home-town to join the newly-formed Burton United
in the Football League Second Division
in August 1901. After failing to break into the first-team at Burton, Joyce was transferred to Blackburn Rovers
of the Football League First Division
in May 1902. At Blackburn, he vied for the No.1 shirt with Willie McIver but after making 14 appearances he returned to London in the spring of 1903. After a brief spell with Tottenham Hotspur
, he returned to Millwall
in the summer where he was to remain for the next six years, before re-joining Spurs in 1909. In December 1905, he was briefly displaced as first-choice 'keeper by Jack Robinson, under whom he had played at Southampton.
At White Hart Lane
, Joyce was initially first-choice 'keeper, before losing his place to Tommy Lunn
but by 1912, he had ousted Lunn and taken over as the regular "custodian". On 10 April 1914, Joyce scored from a penalty
against Bolton Wanderers
and followed this with another against Bayern Munich in a friendly a month later. Joyce played a total of 113 first-team matches for the Spurs, with his career ending following the outbreak of World War I
.
During the war, Joyce returned to Millwall
and after the war, following a brief spell with Gillingham
, became assistant trainer and was briefly caretaker manager when Bob Hunter became ill in the 1930s.
Football career
Joyce was born in Burton upon TrentBurton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and started his football career with his home-town club, Burton Pioneers, before spells with two clubs in neighbouring Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, Woodville
Woodville, Derbyshire
Woodville is a village and civil parish just outside Swadlincote in South Derbyshire, England. The centre of the village, known as the Tollgate, is a busy traffic island on the A511.-History:...
and Overseal
Overseal
Overseal is a village situated 3 miles south of Swadlincote, in South Derbyshire. It is sometimes locally pronounced as "Ovversale" and is the southernmost settlement in Derbyshire, on the border with Leicestershire.-Geography:...
Town. Whilst playing for Overseal Town, he was spotted by scouts from 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...
champions 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...
, for whom he was signed for a fee of £80.
Joyce, together with his Overseal team-mate, Sid Cavendish
Sid Cavendish
Sidney William "Sid" Cavendish was an English professional footballer who played at inside-forward for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century.-Football career:...
, joined the "Saints" in May 1898 and made his debut against Warmley
Warmley F.C.
Warmley F.C. was a football club based in Warmley, near Kingswood, England. They were formed in 1882. They are widely regarded as playing the first organised football match in the Bristol region against St George....
in December 1898, but Warmley shortly afterwards withdrew from the league and their record was expunged. As a result, Joyce's "official" debut was delayed until 21 October 1899, in a 5–1 victory over Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
. At Southampton, Joyce was an understudy to 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...
international Jack Robinson
Jack Robinson (footballer)
John William "Jack" Robinson , was a professional footballer who played for, among others Derby County, Southampton and England.-Football career:...
and Robinson's form meant that Joyce's first-team opportunities were rare. Nonetheless, he was a useful goalkeeper to have in reserve and was able to use his bulk to punt the ball upfield further than any other contemporary goalkeeper. After seven Southern League appearances, in May 1900 Joyce moved to fellow Southern League club Millwall Athletic in search of regular first team football.
After a season with Millwall, Joyce returned to his home-town to join the newly-formed Burton United
Burton United F.C.
Burton United Football Club was an English football club from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire that played in The Football League between 1901 and 1907, before folding in 1910.-History:...
in the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in August 1901. After failing to break into the first-team at Burton, Joyce was transferred to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
of the Football League 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....
in May 1902. At Blackburn, he vied for the No.1 shirt with Willie McIver but after making 14 appearances he returned to London in the spring of 1903. After a brief spell with 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....
, he returned to 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...
in the summer where he was to remain for the next six years, before re-joining Spurs in 1909. In December 1905, he was briefly displaced as first-choice 'keeper by Jack Robinson, under whom he had played at Southampton.
At White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
, Joyce was initially first-choice 'keeper, before losing his place to Tommy Lunn
Tommy Lunn
Thomas Henry 'Tommy' Lunn was an English professional footballer who played for Brownhills Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Stockport County.- Football career :...
but by 1912, he had ousted Lunn and taken over as the regular "custodian". On 10 April 1914, Joyce scored from a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
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....
and followed this with another against Bayern Munich in a friendly a month later. Joyce played a total of 113 first-team matches for the Spurs, with his career ending following the outbreak of 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...
.
During the war, Joyce returned to 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...
and after the war, following a brief spell with Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, became assistant trainer and was briefly caretaker manager when Bob Hunter became ill in the 1930s.