9th May 1920

Brombourgh, Cheshire

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Registered with Port Vale Joe Wheatley was a wartime guest player for Exeter City during 1944/45 when, as the situation eased, a number of games were organised to constitute the first football played by the club since 1939. He was later a mainstay for Shrewsbury Town in the immediate post-war seasons.

Named Harold, but always known as Joe, he played for Ellesmere Port Town before joining Port Vale as an amateur in March 1938 and as a professional soon afterwards. Making just two Football League appearances before the outbreak of war, he guested for Wrexham, Stockport County and Chester in 'wartime' football before appearing for Exeter City on a similar basis in the 5-1 home win against Plymouth Argyle in April 1945.

Leaving Port Vale for Shrewsbury Town in the summer of 1946, Joe made 182 appearances for his new club in the Midland League before playing in Shrewsbury's initial seven games in the Football League in 1950.

Joe Wheatley died in 2014.