Background
Joyce was born in Jarrow, County Durham, and began his football career with his hometown team in the North-Eastern League.
Joyce was born in Jarrow, County Durham, and began his football career with his hometown team in the North-Eastern League.
He also played non-league football for Jarrow. He signed for Darlington ahead of their debut season in the newly formed Third Division North. He shared the left-back position with the veteran Tommy Barbour in 1921-1922, and was later displaced by Jack O"Donnell before the latter"s transfer to Everton, but otherwise he played regularly over six years with Darlington.
A profile in the Derby Daily Telegraph at the start of the 1925-1926 season described Joyce as "only of medium height and weight, but he takes his position well, and is very resourceful in recovering apparently lost positions", although his kicking "might be a little less erratic", and he had "come on by leaps and bounds" since joining the club
He went through that season as Darlington"s only ever-present player as they retained their Second Division status, and again appeared regularly the following season as his team were relegated back to the Northern Section. He finished his six-year career with Darlington with 166 Football League appearances.
He was listed for transfer, twice failed to obtain a reduction in the fee, and finished the season with Durham City in the Third Division.