|
Joe
Spence |
Manchester
United FC
2 appearances, 1 goal
P 2 W 1 D
1 L 0 F 8: A 6
75% successful
1926-27
captain: none
minutes played: 180 |
|
 |
|
Timeline |
| |
Private Joseph Spence |
|
|
Spence was born and died with just a forename, Joseph.
It is only his Army Service Records and some newspaper articles in 1921
that have given him a middle name of Waters.
Waters, in fact, is his
mother's maiden name. There is no 'Water' anywhere except in Lamming's
book.
In conclusion, it appears that Joseph signed himself as Joseph
Waters from 1918 til the early 1920's. |
|
Birth |
13 December 1898 in Throckley, Newburn-on-Tyne,
Northumberland
[registered as just 'Joseph', in Castle
Ward, March 1899]. confirmed by
his 1939 register |
|
|
According to the 1901
census, Joseph is the youngest of two children, both sons, to William and
Hannah (née Waters), living at 62 Long Row in Throckley. His Scottish
father is a coal mine hewer. They have two boarders, both
uncle's, forty-old Joseph Waters and 31 year-old Dabiel Spence, both
miners. |
|
|
According to the 1911
census, schoolboy Joseph is now the second of five children, one sister
and two more brothers. They live with their parents at 5 Oak Street in
Throckley. His father is still a hewer, and still with a boarder, uncle
Joseph Waters, also a hewer.
According to his Army Service Records,
on 29 April 1918, Joseph Waters signed up for the Training Reserve
Battalion. He is a putter in the coalmines still living at 5 Oak Street.
Spence was discharged to continue with his coal mining. |
|
|
According to the
1921 census, Joseph W. is now a professional footballer (for Manchester
United FC) and is the oldest of five children living at home with their
parents still at 5 Oak Street. |
|
Marriage |
to Alice Lown
[registered as Joseph W., in Castle Ward, September 1922]. They had
one son, Joseph Lown (b.13 October 1925). |
|
|
According to the
1939 register, Joseph, an iron tube manufacturer and plain steel grinder,
is married to Alice and they live at 113 Brockwell Lane in Chesterfield. |
|
Death |
31
December 1966 at The Royal Hospital in Chesterfield,
aged
68 years 18 days
[registered in Chesterfield, March 1967]. Living at 113 Brockwell
Lane in Chesterfield |
|
Probate |
"SPENCE
Joseph
of 113 Brockwell Lane
Chesterfield
died 31 December 1966 at Royal
Hospital Chesterfield Administration
Nottingham
26 June to Alice Spence widow
£687." |
|
Source |
 Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & |
|
Playing Career |
|
Club(s) |
Began his schoolboy career playing in the Newcastle upon Tyne area. Played
with Bluchers FC juniors before playing centre-forward for Throckley Celtic FC. He joined
Scotswood FC in 1918. Joined Manchester United FC
as a centre-forward in March 1919. He made 481 league appearances,
scoring 158 goals.
Signed for Bradford City FC on 12 June 1933, and after 27 goals
in 75 league appearances,
he joined Chesterfield FC on 16 May 1935, where he scored another
ten goals in 58 league appearances. Retired in 1938 |
|
Club honours |
Football League Division Two
runners-up 1924-25; Division Three North winners
1935-36; |
|
Individual honours |
Football League (one appearance) |
|
Distinctions |
Father of Joe Spence
(York City FC, 1950-54) |
|
Height/Weight |
5' 6" [1918],
5'
8", 11st.
0lbs [1925 & 1928]. |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
One
of six who became 504th players (507)
to appear for England. |
|
Position(s) |
Outside-right (although being a club centre-forward) |
|
First match |
No. 150, 24 May 1926, Belgium 3 England 5, an
end-of-season friendly
match at Olympisch Stadion, Antwerpen, aged 27 years
160 days. |
|
Last match |
No. 151,
20 October 1926,
England 3
Ireland
3, a
British Championship match at Anfield Road, Anfield, Liverpool, aged
27 years 309 days.
 |
|
Major tournaments |
British Championship 1926-27; |
|
Team honours |
British Championship shared 1926-27; |
|
Individual honours |
None |
|
Distinctions |
Cousin of
George Brown.
Died thirteen days after George Raikes. |
|
Beyond England |
|
Worked for the Chesterfield Tube
Company until his retirement in 1965. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.231. |
