Joe Jopling (born 21 April 1951) is an English former footballer. He played 367 league games for Aldershot in two spells between 1969 and 1970, and from 1974 to 1984.
 Joe Jopling in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 April 1951 | ||
| Place of birth | South Shields, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Central defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1969–1970 | Aldershot | 35 | (2) |
| 1970–1974 | Leicester City | 3 | (0) |
| 1973–1974 | → Torquay United (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 1974–1984 | Aldershot | 332 | (11) |
| Total | 376[2] | (13) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
editJopling worked on South Shields shipyards, playing football at a junior level for Harton and Westoe F.C.[3] in Tyneside, before he signed professional contracts with Aldershot in August 1969. He was an immediate hit with the Fourth Division club, helping the Shots to reach the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in 1969–70.
In September 1970, Second Division Leicester City signed the player, in a deal which saw Murray Brodie and Jimmy Burt moving to Aldershot plus a reported fee of £30,000.[4] Jopling made just three league appearances in four seasons while at Leicester.
He had a short loan spell at Torquay United, before returning to Aldershot in March 1974. Appointed as captain at the club, he spent the next ten years with the club before his retirement in May 1984.
He is still living in the Aldershot area, and was former landlord of the Golden Lion public house on the High Street. He is a frequent guest to the new Aldershot Town club, who were formed in 1992 in the aftermath of the original side going out of business.[5]
References
edit- ^ Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 46. ISBN 0362020175.
- ^ "JOE JOPLING stats". neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ PFA Premier & Football League Players Records 1946-2016 ed Barry J Hugman
- ^ Rothmans Football Yearbook 1971-72
- ^ "Aldershot FC 1926-1992 (Liquidated) - Aldershot Town Football Club History". Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.