Joe Cockroft
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Joseph Cockroft was born in Barnsley on 20th June 1911. His professional football career began when he signed for Rotherham United at the beginning of the 1931-32 season. He played only 3 games before joining Gainsborough Trinity in the Midland League.
At the age of 22 Cockroft was signed by Charlie Paynter, the manager of West Ham United in 1932. The left-half played six games in his first season but in the 1933-34 season he played all 42 games in the Second Division side. He retained his place in the side for the next six seasons. This included 217 consecutive appearances.
After the outbreak of the Second World War the Football League competition was cancelled. However, as Britain had not experienced any bombing raids by early 1940 it was decided to start a new competition entitled the Football League War Cup.
The entire competition of 137 games including replays was condensed into nine weeks. The first two rounds were regionalised and staged over two legs. In the first round, West Ham overcame Chelsea 5-2 on aggregate then Leicester 4-1.
In the third round West Ham drew 3-3 with Huddersfield Town but won 3-1 in the replay at Upton Park. In the quarter final round West Ham beat Birmingham 4-2 with George Foreman, Len Goulden, Archibald Macaulay and Sam Small scoring the goals.
The semi-final against Fulham took place at Stamford Bridge in front of 32,799 people. This was the largest crowd to watch a war-time match so far. West Ham took an early lead with a Fulham own-goal. This was followed by goals by Len Goulden, Stan Foxall and Sam Small. West Ham appeared to be coasting to an easy victory until Fulham scored three goals in 17 minutes. However, they held on to win 4-3.
By the time the final took place, the "Phoney War" had come to an end. On 10th May, 1940, Adolf Hitler launched his Western Offensive and invaded France. In the days leading up to the final, the British Expeditionary Force was being evacuated from Dunkirk.
The final against Blackburn Rovers took place on Saturday, 8th June, 1940. The government insisted that the kick-off was put back to 6.30 p.m. so that the war effort was not impeded. Despite the fears that London would be bombed by the Luftwaffe, over 42,300 fans decided to take the risk of visiting Wembley. (The Blitz did not begin until 7th September, 1940). Before the game started the band of the Irish Guard played the National Anthem and that of our French allies.
West Ham made a good start to the game and James Barron, the Blackburn goalkeeper, made two great saves from Stan Foxall. In the 34th minute Foxall went past several Blackburn players on the left-wing before giving it to Len Goulden who passed it onto George Foreman who fired in a fierce shot that Barron who could only push the ball out to a waiting Sam Small who scored easily from close-range.

The midfield of Joe Cockroft, Len Goulden, Archibald Macaulay and Ted Fenton were on top form and this enabled West Ham to take control of the game. However, injuries to full-back and captain Charlie Bicknell and Goulden made the last 20 minutes a struggle. Centre-half Dick Walker, admitted that the team "struggled a bit" but they were able to hang onto a 1-0 victory.

Left to right, Corporal Norman Corbett, Ted Fenton, Charlie Bicknell,
Archie Macaulay and George Foreman.
Ted Fenton did not attend the post-match celebrations. "Austerity was the watchword everywhere. The Wembley crowd was restricted in numbers by the police and after the game the players quietly split up and went straight back to our service units." However, most of the team did go for a drink together. Dick Walker recalled: "Most of the lads had an informal cup winning reception in the Boleyn pub near the ground. We got back there in time to get in a few pints before closing time. I remember my medal going round and round the public bar."
Joe Cockroft's London home was destroyed during the Blitz. Under the government's direction of labour laws he was forced to wok for the Edgar Allen and Company, a steelworks in Sheffield. While in the city he played 198 friendly games for Sheffield Wednesday. After the war he joined the club and for the next three years made a total of 97 appearances in all competitions.
In November 1948 he joined Sheffield United and became the oldest First Division debutant as a 37-year-old. He played only 12 games before joining Wisbech Town as player-manager. A job he held until 1952.
After retiring from football Cockcroft was landlord of the Angel Inn, Wisbech.
Joe Cockcroft died on 8th February 1994.