Joe Hulme

Joseph Harold Anthony Hulme was born on 26 August 1904 to Joseph Hulme Snr and  and Henrietta Hulme. He was brother to Hilda and Ethel. Ethel married William Henry Bennett and was mother to Len and Pam.

Len grew up in York with an uncle that not only played for York but went on to play for Blackburn Rovers, the great Arsenal side of the 30’s and Huddersfield Town. Joe Hulme would play in five FA cup finals and gain winners medals in two. As well as being a football player, who was to play 9 times for England, Joe also played first class cricket for Middlesex. His full football career and honours gained are provided in full on his Wikipedia page.

A young Blackburn Rovers player
Arsenal - Joe Hulme - front row, far left.

Joe Hulme won his first FA cup winners medal in 1930 at the age of 26. He had already been picked for England 3 years earlier against Scotland at Hampden Park on 2 April 1927.

Len followed his uncle Joe’s career closely and collected cigarette cards and press cuttings related to Joe whenver he could throughout his life

Newspaper cuttings of Joe Hulme

Joe was a keen golfer and started playing when he was a young footballer. Here he is with some of his Arsenal team mates.

Playing for Middlesex - click on the image for full cricket career
A cartoon in the Daily Express

Joe Hulme even appeared on a stamp as part of  a tribute to the great players of Arsenal