Joe Lancaster, from Ilfracombe, was a highly-rated amateur forward in North Devon football who appeared for Exeter City Reserves in the Southern League in 1946/47.

Spoken about in the North Devon area as a promising prospect in the years after the war, he contined to attract attention from bigger clubs after briefly turning out for City. He is known to have  appeared for Torquay United Reserves and was also reported to have been scouted by Aston Villa. Nothing came of this interest and he continued to play for Ilfracombe.