Devon-born but raised in Jersey, Joe Cummins quickly settled into Southampton’s Reserves in November 1933. He was unlucky on his League debut, the day after his 24th birthday.

Playing at inside-right, he sustained an early injury and was a passenger for the rest of the game.

He was a versatile player, often appearing at full or halfback for the reserves but not having had a second chance in the first team, Joe soon opted to move to Paris. After playing for a couple of French clubs, he returned to Southampton. He played part-time for Newport for a while and spent the rest of his working life at the Ordnance Survey. In the 1939 mini census, however, he was registered as being a traveling surveyor and was in Thurrock.