Wade Reg Image 1 West Ham United 1930

Description

Stoke Newington, London born full back (he could play both sides) Reg Wade began his career with Barking Town in 1924 and spent 1925-26 on the books of Third Division (South) club Millwall without making the first eleven, before returning to non league football with Ilford, where he won an FA Amateur Cup winner’s medal in 1929 when Ilford beat Leyton 3-1 in the Final at Highbury in front of a crowd of 35,000. He was then signed by First Division club West Ham United, making his Football League debut against Liverpool in January 1930, making one further appearance in his debut season.

He broke into The Hammers’ first team on a regular basis in October 1930 and played 29 matches in 1930-31, however he only featured in 7 matches in 1931-32 as West Ham suffered relegation, albeit they only lost two of Wade’s matches. After their relegation, Wade moved to Third Division (South) newcomers Aldershot, missing only one fixture in their first season of League football and playing in their inaugural fixture against Southend United at the end of August. He played all five ties that season in their fine FA Cup run, when they disposed of Second Division club Millwall in the Fourth Round before being knocked out at First Division Derby County.

He was a consistent feature during his five seasons at The Recreation Ground, missing only 3 matches in total during 1934-35 and 1935-36, however the following season proved his last, possibly retiring through injury incurred in April 1937, not before he had scored his only career goal, a penalty in a 3-0 home win over Bristol City the previous month. He made 206 appearances in total for The Shots.

NB in the image he is shown along with West Ham team mates Bob Dixon, Albert Cadwell and Ted Hufton.