Meek Joe Image 1 Gateshead 1932

Description

Hazlerigg, Newcastle upon Tyne born inside right Joe Meek began his football career playing amateur football for Burradon Colliery Welfare in the mid 1920’s and played for Newcastle Co-operative Society in 1925, Seaton Delaval in 1926 and Bedlington United in 1927 before an unsuccessful trial with Liverpool in March 1928. He played the same year for Crawcrook Albion and St Peter’s Albion, and also for Willington in 1929 and Stockton in 1930 before joining First Division club Middlesbrough on amateur forms in January 1931, before turning professional a month later with Third Division (North) club Gateshead, making his Football League debut at Darlington the same month and scoring on his home debut a week later in a win over Rotherham United.

Meek second top scored for Gateshead during their 1931-32 with 20 goals as they finished runners up in the Third Division (North), narrowly missing out on promotion, missing only two matches in the campaign and scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Carlisle United in November 1931. He scored 18 goals in their 1933-34 campaign, second top scoring behind Jack Wesley, and scored another hat-trick in a win over Crewe Alexandra in September 1934 before being sold to Second Division club Bradford Park Avenue the next month after 56 goals in 144 appearances for The Head.

His spell at Park Avenue lasted only until March 1936, when he was sold to Tottenham Hotspur after 12 goals in 37 appearances, and he almost immediately endeared himself to the White Hart Lane faithful by scoring a hat-trick on his home debut in a heavy win over Southampton. at the end of the month. He scored 10 goals in Tottenham’s 1936-37 campaign, but then lost his place from the start of the following season and played only 7 more matches in 1937-38 and once more in 1938-39 before being transferred to Swansea Town in February 1939 after 16 goals in 51 appearances for Spurs. His Swansea career was halted by the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 after 6 goals in 19 appearances, and he subsequently played for Ashington and for Dudley Welfare after the War before his eventual retirement.

NB the photograph was taken before the League match between Walsall and Gateshead at Fellows Park on 15th October 1932. Walsall won the match 2-0.