Joe Jopling

Joe Jopling (born 21 April 1951) is an English former footballer. He played 367 league games for Aldershot in two spells between 1969–70, and 1974–1984.

Joe Jopling
Joe Jopling in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1951-04-21) 21 April 1951
Place of birth South Shields, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Playing 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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Jopling 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
  1. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 46. ISBN 0362020175.
  2. "JOE JOPLING stats". neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  3. PFA Premier & Football League Players Records 1946-2016 ed Barry J Hugman
  4. Rothmans Football Yearbook 1971-72
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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