As we celebrate Millwall’s 125th year, we look at a significant player from each decade who has been part of the history of Millwall FC.
In the early 1880’s a group of young lads from Scotland came to London to find work.
They found employment at Morton’s jam factory in the West Ferry Road on the Isle of Dog’s and within a few years had formed Millwall Rovers.
On Saturday 3rd October 1885 Millwall Rovers played their first ever game which they lost 5-0 against Fillebrook
As we celebrate Millwall’s 125th year, we look at a significant player from each decade who has been part of the history of Millwall FC.
1900’s John ‘Tiny’ Joyce
Joyce was born on 26th June 1877 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire and started his football career with his home-town club, Burton Pioneers.
In May 1900 Joyce moved from fellow Southern League club Southampton to Millwall Athletic.
After a brief spell with Blackburn Rovers, he returned to Millwall in the summer of 1903 where he was to remain for the next six years, becoming a legend with the fans with his displays in goal before joining Tottenham Hotspur.
When the club was forced to leave East Ferry Road, Joyce did more than any other throughout the summer to get the new ground ready.
Joyce won a London Challenge Cup, a Southern Professional Charity Cup and two Western League medals while at Millwall.
During the First World War, Joyce returned to Millwall and after the war, became assistant trainer and then assistant groundsman and was also briefly caretaker manager when Bob Hunter became ill in the 1930’s.
Joyce died in Greenwich, London in June 1956.
John ‘Tiny’ Joyce (1900-1901, 1903-1909 & 1915-1919)
Millwall career (competitive games only)
Southern League: 249 appearances
F A Cup: 14 appearances
Other Competitions: 122 appearances
