Hello all - lapsed OUFC supporter abroad, here, East Oxford born and raised, last a regular at the Manor in 1999. The news of Joey's passing brings me back here. I wish to express my condolences to Joey's loved ones for their tragic loss and to share my gratitude, like so many have already on the forum, for the joy and excitement that Joey's skills gave us, as well as his unswerving loyalty to our club. I never knew him personally, but I remember him breaking into a struggling side at the foot of the old Second Division in 1991-92, alongside Chrissy Allen, and lighting up the Manor with his energy and imagination - the presence of the two local lads driving down the wings brought us fans closer together in that difficult, but memorable, season. There are stacks of memorable goals we could recall, but Joey's winner at Tranmere in May 1992 to lift us out of the drop zone on the final day, the celebrations at the final whistle and the unity of the fans that day, were for me something I will never forget - football is ultimately about belonging, not merely winning and losing - he helped save this club on many occasions, both on and off the field and was truly one of our own.
Joey's departure to West Ham and the "what-ifs" of his career have all been much discussed, but let us show compassion and gratitude to Joey and acknowledge the strain that young men like him often have to endure without adequate support, often simply told to "sort it out", or "toughen up". From what I can gather he was an unassuming, introverted lad who expressed himself on the pitch and was loyal to his roots. The football culture he inhabited in the 1990s demanded he be a very different personality in order to fit in. He was compelled to make the move to West Ham, with the added pressure put on his shoulders that the club would go under. It was simply not the environment for a lad like Joey, he needed example, nurturing and a sense of belonging, but was traded as a commodity, thrown into the glaring spotlight of the Premier League rumour mill and then publicly derided by the likes of Billy Bonds and Harry Redknapp.
Frustrating as it may have been for those of us looking on from outside to see a local lad not go onto greater things, I guess he struggled with the compulsion live up to the expectations of others - he rejected the promises of the Premier League and was maligned for his choice to move to Swindon, but all he ever wanted was to return to sleepy, provincial Oxford and play for his hometown club. If he had been from, say, East London, Liverpool or Manchester, this attitude would have been celebrated. Joey valued rootedness, community and family over possible riches and success in the Premier League, he embodied values that are often derided today - we must respect him for that - he was our Tom Finney, our Stanley Matthews: we may never see his kind again.
Be at peace, Joey, you were much loved.
