Editing Joe Mercer (section)

==Playing career==
Mercer was born in [[Ellesmere Port]], [[Cheshire]], the son of a former [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] and [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] footballer, also named [[Joe Mercer (footballer, born 1889)|Joe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roydenhistory.co.uk/eportwarmemorial/pows/mercer_joe/joemercer.pdf|title=Joe Mercer and the Football Battalion|author=Mike Royden|website=Roydenhistory.co.uk|access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref> His father died following health problems resulting from a gas attack during the [[World War I|Great War]], when Mercer was only 12.<ref>{{cite book | author=Gary James | title=Football with a Smile: The Authorised Biography of Joe Mercer, OBE | year=1993| pages= 16 | publisher=ACL & Polar |isbn=0-9514862-9-2}}</ref>

Mercer, a left-half, first played for [[Ellesmere Port Town F.C.|Ellesmere Port Town]]. He was a powerful tackler and good at anticipating an opponent's moves. He joined [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in September 1932 at the age of 18 and claimed a regular first team place in the 1935–36 season. Mercer made 186 appearances for Everton, scoring two goals and a winning a [[Football League First Division|League championship]] medal in the 1938–39 season. While playing for Everton, he gained five [[England national football team|England]] caps between 1938 and 1939.<ref name=Everton>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/players/j/jm/joe-mercer|title=Joe Mercer Profile|website=Everton FC.com}}</ref>

Like many players of his generation, Mercer lost out on seven seasons of football due to the [[World War II|Second World War]]. He became a sergeant-major and played in 26 wartime internationals, many of them as captain. The Everton manager [[Theo Kelly]] accused Mercer of not trying in an international against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]],{{when|date=March 2024}} but in reality, Mercer had sustained a severe cartilage injury. Even after consulting an orthopaedic specialist, the Everton management refused to believe him and Mercer had to pay for the surgery himself. During the war, Mercer guested for [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]], making his debut in a 4–1 win over [[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]] in September 1942.<ref>{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages= 59 |isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref>

Mercer moved in late 1946 for £9,000 (''2022: £471,362'') to [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], commuting from [[Liverpool]]; Kelly brought Mercer's boots to the transfer negotiations to prevent Mercer having a reason to go back to say goodbye to the other players at Everton.<ref>Corbett, James (2003); p104 ''Everton:School of Science'' publ by MacMillan {{ISBN|0-330-42006-2}}</ref> He made his Arsenal debut against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] on 30 November 1946 and soon after joining Arsenal, Mercer became club captain. As captain, he led Arsenal through their period of success in the late 1940s and early 1950s, helping to haul his side from the lower end of the table to win a League championship title in the [[1947–48 in English football|1947–48 season]].<ref name=Arsenal>{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/historic/players/joe-mercer|title=Joe Mercer|website=Arsenal.com|date=6 April 2024 }}</ref>

Mercer went on to win an [[FA Cup]] winner's medal in 1950 and was voted [[FWA Footballer of the Year]] the same year. He led Arsenal to the [[1952 FA Cup final|Cup final in 1952]], which they lost 1–0 to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]. The following year, they bounced back to win his third League title with Arsenal winning the [[1952–53 in English football|1952–53]] League championship on [[goal average]]. Mercer initially decided to retire in May 1953, but soon recanted and returned to Arsenal for the [[1953–54 in English football|1953–54 season]]. On 10 April 1954, he broke his leg in two places after a collision with teammate [[Joe Wade (footballer)|Joe Wade]] in a match against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], and finally called time on his footballing career the year after. Mercer played 275 times for Arsenal in all, scoring two goals.<ref name=Arsenal />