Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
118	118	0	5	0	0	15

Although he was born in Streethouse in 1908 and played for Streethouse Red House juniors, Joe Golby's route to Post Office Road took thirty years and followed stalwart service with Dewsbury and Wigan, two of the top clubs of the 1930s. At Dewsbury he was one of a renowned front row of Banks, Golby and Taggart, who were all eventually transferred to Wigan and played in the 1934 Championship play-offs final when Wigan beat Salford 15-3. Golby made nearly 200 appearances for Wigan and played in every game in one season. A specialist hooker, he was transferred from Wigan in exchange for the Rovers hooker, Vic Darlison. He made his senior debut on 15 October 1938 v St Helens Recs (away), but it was reported that he 'was then transfer-listed at his own request in January after having given Rovers abundant possession since moving from Wigan last October'. Rovers immediately signed hooker Bowden from York, but he had a long wait ahead of him as Golby continued to play. It is not clear whether he withdrew his request.

ln a remarkable sequence, repeating his Wigan record, Golby made 69 consecutive appearances in league and cup games from his debut in October 1938 to June 1940.  Then having reached the Yorkshire Cup final v Wakefield at Odsal, he was dismissed from the field together with his opposing hooker - one Vic Darlison, who was now guesting for Wakefield. He had the satisfaction of receiving a winner's medal, but the resultant suspension meant that he missed the opening two games of the season 1940/41 (when Bowden at last took over).  He then continued with his remarkable sequence and added another 29 as the consistency continued; indeed, at the end of his Rovers career, he had played in 118 of 127 games in a four-year period.

He was appointed captain in March 1942, but was powerless to avoid Rovers' heaviest ever defeat (at the time) on 14 April 1942 at Halifax by 70-2. There were extenuating circumstances. The Rovers lost three men through injury before the interval and lost another after 60 minutes, playing the last 20 minutes with nine men. Golby played six matches in 1942/43 before being transferred to Batley, where he ended his career. His last match for the Rovers was at Hull in the Yorkshire Cup on 24 October 1942, thus concluding an impressive record. A true professional, his experience and skill helped blend a young Rovers side to forget the dismal record of the 1930s and win their first trophy.

Joe Golby was a fine footballer, with a compelling dummy and a strong presence at the acting half position. More importantly, he was an outstanding striker in the scrum, one of the best of his era, at a time when this provided the major source of possession. His competitiveness and professional pride were intense - he was only dismissed twice in his career and on both occasions he was opposed by Darlison.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey