Joe Bailey

Walter George Bailey (9 February 1890 – 20 July 1974), known as Joe Bailey, was an English professional footballer who made over 180 appearances in the Southern League and the Football League for Reading. An inside forward, he represented England at amateur level and was an all-round sportsman, playing cricket for Berkshire and Oxfordshire, hockey for Oxfordshire and later coaching cricket.

Early life Bailey attended Lord Williams's Grammar School and prior to becoming a professional footballer, he worked as a draper's assistant. In 1921, Bailey retired from professional football to coach cricket at Warwick School. He also became a freemason and later served as a company commander in the Dorset Home Guard during the Second World War. The battalion arrived on the Western Front in November 1915 and he was lightly wounded in the face by a rifle grenade in trenches near Calonne-sur-la-Lys in February 1916. In June 1916, Bailey was evacuated back to Britain after a hand, which he had cut on barbed wire, turned septic. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the line had to be reformed under heavy machine-gun fire, this officer moved about, placing the men in the best positions. He then made several journeys to an ammunition dump in front of the line, bringing back ammunition which was much needed. He also brought back a man who was lying wounded in the open.Bailey was awarded a bar to his Military Cross for his actions on 21 August 1918: First Division 4 1 0 0 4 1

1920–21 Third Division 41 17 0 0 41 17

186 77 0 5 186 82

190 78 0 5 190 83

Honours Reading Hall of Fame