Joe Spence

Who was Joe Spence?

Joseph Waters "Joe" Spence was an English football player. Spence was purchased from Scotswood in March 1919 by Manchester United. His first game for the club came on 30 August 1919 against Derby County, at the start of the first Football League season after the First World War.

He is currently sixth on the club's all-time goalscoring list with 168 and seventh for appearances with 510. He left the club in 1933.

One of United's few true stars between the wars, Spence's wing play made "Give it to Joe" the most commonly heard terrace chant during his 14 years at Old Trafford. His first season brought 14 goals in 32 First Division games, and in his best season at the club, 1927-28 season, he scored 24 goals; 22 in the league and two in the FA Cup. However, United were relegated to the Second Division twice during his 14 years there.

Indeed, such was his importance to United, and Manchester, he was known locally as "Mr Soccer".

Born in Throckley, Northumberland, the young Spence played for Blutcher Juniors and Throckley Celtic. While with the former, he scored an astonishing 42 of the team's 49 goals in his first season.