Joe North
FullnameErnest Joseph North
Birth date23 September 1895
Death date24 August 1955 (aged 59)
Death placeHavant, England
Birth placeBurton-on-Trent, England
Height5 ft 9+1⁄2 in (1.77 m)[1]
PositionCentre forward
Clubs 1Atlas & Norfolk Works
Years 21914
Clubs 2Sheffield United
Caps 20
Goals 20
Clubs 3Tank Corps
Years 41919–1922
Clubs 4Arsenal
Caps 423
Goals 46
Years 51922–1923
Clubs 5Reading
Caps 54
Goals 50
Years 61923–1924
Clubs 6Gillingham
Caps 639
Goals 611
Years 71924–1926
Clubs 7Norwich City
Caps 756
Goals 719
Years 81926–19??
Clubs 8Watford
Caps 86
Goals 80
Clubs 9Northfleet United

Ernest Joseph North MM (23 September 1895 – 24 August 1955) was an English professional footballer. North, who played as a centre forward, played for Sheffield United, Arsenal, Reading, Gillingham, Norwich City, Watford and Northfleet United. He was also a professional cricketer for Middlesex.[2]

Career

North's early footballing career was interrupted by World War I, in which he enlisted and served as an acting sergeant in the Royal Engineers and the Machine Gun Corps and then as a lieutenant in the Tank Corps.[3] North won the Military Medal during the conflict.[4] During this time he also featured as a guest player for Sheffield United.[2]

North joined Arsenal in 1919 as an amateur. A centre forward, he scored on his debut in a First Division match against Oldham Athletic on 7 February 1920. However, he was used mainly as backup for Henry White and Fred Pagnam, and made just 23 league appearances (scoring six goals) in three seasons before leaving Highbury for Reading in May 1922.[5][2]

He later played for Watford, Norwich City and Gillingham.[6] After retiring, he was briefly a coach at Northfleet United. He also played cricket for Middlesex and later became an umpire in the Minor Counties Championship.[5][2]

References

  1. ^ The Vagrant (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Arsenal". Athletic News. p. 5.
  2. ^ "Joe North". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  3. ^
  4. ^ "WW1: Gunners at War". The Arsenal History. 8 November 2015.
  5. ^ Harris, Jeff (1995). Arsenal Who's Who. Hogg, Tony (ed.). Independent UK Sports. p. 97. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
  6. ^ Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 24. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.