The son of a priest and a marine-draughtsman by trade, Joe Blake had served his apprenticeship in the shipyards of Suffolk before moving to Cowes, where he was soon spotted by Southampton, playing Hampshire League football. He signed for them on amateur terms, initially restricted to Southern League papers, while Cowes continued to hold his Hampshire League forms. He transferred fully to the Saints for the 1906-07 season and the next, but remained an amateur, featuring only infrequently.

When his employment moved to Thornycroft’s at Woolston, he was now more handily placed to play for Southampton and duly signed pro.

A winger equally at home on either flank, Joe was fleet-footed, could dribble with skill and, most importantly, was able to center with pinpoint exactness.

He had patchy seasons and more regular ones – until 1915 when the war effort required his services on a larger scale at Thornycroft’s. During the hostilities, Joe played mainly for the works team, occasionally turning out for the Saints. In 1919, now almost 37, he resumed his career at The Dell. But after making only one appearance in what was to be the Saints’ final Southern League season, he formally joined Thornycroft’s. TB claimed his life when he was in his late 40s.