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"Gentleman" Joe Wainwright’s playing career with the Rovers spanned fourteen seasons, but his association with and affection for the club lasted a lifetime. Born on 11 October, 1915, in Balsall Heath, he was a keen sportsman from a young age, excelling in both football and cricket. He played for Birmingham Gas and Tamworth prior to outbreak of the Second World War, during which he served in the Royal Navy.
On the resumption of football, he made a few appearances for Sutton Town before signing for the Rovers in December 1945. Joe made his debut in a 5-0 victory over Banbury Spencer and very quickly made the centre-half berth his own. In his first full season for the club, he captained them to the Birmingham Combination, the Worcestershire Senior Cup and to the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup. His importance to the team was so much so that when a knee injury ruled him out of the second-half of the following campaign, the general belief was that it was Joe’s absence that prevented them from defending the league crown. He led the team into the First Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history that year, and subsequently did so on three further occasions.
When the Rovers switched to the Birmingham & District League, no prizes for guessing the man to take them into this new era. Joe remained loyal to Bromsgrove from the moment he signed for the club, turning down overtures over the years from other teams who were keen to acquire his services. So ingrained was he that it came as something of a shock when he decided to hang up his boots at the end of the 1957/58 season, even though by then he was 42 years old.
He wasn’t going anywhere mind, and took over the running of the Reserve team, who played in the Worcestershire Combination. After Eric Jones left to take up a managerial post in Holland, it was Joe who the Committee called upon to look after first team duties. He had the best part of six seasons in charge, with a second-place finish in 1960/61 the high point. It was during this season that he was forced to don his boots one final time. Injuries and no-shows had left the team a forward short for a
match against Moor Green in April. Joe brought himself out of retirement to lead the line and the fairytale was complete when he scored the winning goal. At 45, he is likely one of the oldest people to ever play for the Rovers and certainly their oldest goal scorer.
Joe was relieved of his duties in February, 1966, the club unable to afford the luxury of a manager any more. Only two months earlier, he had been presented with a silver coffee set in honour of twenty years’ service. It was a somewhat acrimonious ending, yet ever the gentleman he offered to leave immediately as opposed at the end of the season as had been suggested.
A stint at Moor Green followed but Joe wasn’t done with the Rovers. Twice he answered SOS calls to take on a caretaker managerial role - the final time in 1976 - and he could usually be
found on the sidelines at all home First and Reserve team fixtures until his health started to fail him.
Joe sadly passed away on 6 December 1993, aged 78, just a month before the FA Cup tie with Barnsley. As per his wishes, his ashes were dug into the centre of the Victoria Ground pitch.
In the Victoria Ground Story book, Des Best refers to him as the greatest clubman in the club’s history. It’s hard to argue against that or even think of someone who comes close.
Stats:
Debut: vs Banbury Spencer, Birmingham Combination, Spencer Stadium, 8 December 1945, 5-0.
Last game:
1945/46: 18 appearances, 0 goals
1946/47: 39 appearances, 4 goals
1947/48: 20 appearances, 0 goals
1948/49: 40 appearances, 3 goals
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D.O.B:
11/10/1915
Born:
Balsall Heath, Birmingham
D.O.D:
06/12/1993
Died:
Birmingham
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