John James Joseph Bertolucci was a winger for Truro City Football Club during the 1920’s and 1930’s who would also help out by playing in defence from time to time.
Before joining Truro City, Joe played for Truro Great Western Railway Athletic Football Club and in their first season of existence they won the Truro & District League Cup in 1921-1922.
Although Joe didn’t score on his full debut for Truro City Football Club, he did score on his league debut against old rivals St Austell at home in the Plymouth & District League. Joe played for Truro City for over a decade, scoring over 100 goals and winning 8 trophies.
In the 1921-1922 season, Joe made his debut at home to Flushing in the Cornwall Senior Cup on Friday 11th November as City won the game 1-0, it wasn’t until Saturday 25th February 1922 that Joe played for the first team again, this time he made his league debut in the Plymouth & District League at home against old foes St Austell, Joe scored and City won by two goals to one.
Joe was only two goals behind City’s top league goal scorer in the 1925-1926 season when he finished the campaign with 12 goals in the Plymouth & District League.
It was Joe’s best season for scoring goals in 1927-1928, as he hit home 18 goals in the Plymouth & District League.
The 1928-1929 season saw Joe notch 13 goals in the Plymouth & District League Division One.
Joe only played the first 5 league games of the 1930-1931 season, scoring three times then disappeared, I’m not entirely sure as to why as there’s no mention in any newspapers, but I could hazard a guess at he either suffered a serious injury or transferred clubs? Either way he returned for the 1931-1932 season.
In his final season at Truro City Football Club, Joe played 6 league games and only scored once in the league as City finished 4th in the Cornwall Senior League in 1933-1934 season, but made 9 appearances in the Cornwall Senior Cup that same season, scoring 4 goals in the Senior Cup.
After a 3 month illness, he died in his home in Truro on Friday 2nd September 1938, at the age of just 39 years old.
Prior to Truro City’s home 1-1 draw with St Dennis on Saturday 10th September 1938 in the first game of the Cornwall Senior League, both teams lined up in the centre of the field and observed a period of silence to the memory of the late Mr J. Bertolucci, a former Truro City player, and the club flag was flown at half-mast.
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TCFC Debut – Flushing (H) W 1-0 – Cornwall Senior Cup – 11 Nov 1921
First TCFC Goal – St Austell (H) W 2-1 – Plymouth & District League – 25 Feb 1922
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League Appearances/Goals
1921-1922 – 1 – 1
1922-1923 – 5
1923-1924 – 2
1924-1925 – 12
1925-1926 – 12
1926-1927 – 5
1927-1928 – 18
1928-1929 – 13
1929-1930 – 11
1930-1931 – 5 – 3
1931-1932 – 3
1933-1934 – 6 – 1
Total – 86
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Cup Stats
Cornwall Senior Cup – 50 Goals
Cornwall Charity Cup – 6 Goals
Total – 56 Goals
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All Competitions
142 League & Cup Goals
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League
1 – St Austell (H) – W 2-1 – 25 Feb 1922 – Plymouth & District League
2 – Tavistock (H) – W 3-0 – 21 Oct 1922 – Plymouth & District League
3 – Liskeard (H) – W 4-0 – 9 Dec 1922 – Plymouth & District League
4 – Millbrook Rangers (H) – W 7-2 – 27 Jan 1923 – Plymouth & District League
5 – Millbrook Rangers (H) – W 7-2 – 27 Jan 1923 – Plymouth & District League
6 – Torpoint (H) – W 3-2 – 27 Apr 1923 – Plymouth & District League
7 – Looe (H) – D 1-1 – 5 Jan 1924 – Plymouth & District League
8 – Royal Marines (H) – W 6-2 – 29 Mar 1924 – Plymouth & District League
9 – Oreston Rovers (H) – W 2-1 – 4 Oct 1924 – Plymouth & District League
10 – Newquay (A) – D 1-1 – 1 Nov 1924 – Plymouth & District League
11 – Crownhill (H) – W 5-1 – 22 Nov 1924 – Plymouth & District League
12 – Crownhill (H) – W 5-1 – 22 Nov 1924 – Plymouth & District League
13 – Plymouth St Thomas (A) – W 4-3 – 24 Jan 1925 – Plymouth & District League
14 – Woodland Villa (H) – W 3-0 – 31 Jan 1925 – Plymouth & District League
15 – Liskeard (A) – L 1-2 – 7 Feb 1925 – Plymouth & District League
16 – Torpoint (H) – W 3-0 – 14 Feb 1925 – Plymouth & District League
17 – Liskeard (H) – W 5-2 – Feb 1925 – Plymouth & District League
18 – Liskeard (H) – W 5-2 – Feb 1925 – Plymouth & District League
19 – Royal Marines (A) – W 5-1 – 7 Mar 1925 – Plymouth & District League
20 – Tavistock (H) – W 5-2 – 25 Apr 1925 – Plymouth & District League
21 – Green Waves (A) – D 3-3 – 31 Oct 1925 – Plymouth & District League
22 – Royal Marines (H) – W 3-1 – 28 Nov 1925 – Plymouth & District League
23 – South Staffs Regiment (H) – W 2-0 – 23 Jan 1926 – Plymouth & District League
24 – Woodland Villa (A) – W 5-2 – 20 Mar 1926 – Plymouth & District League
25 – Woodland Villa (A) – W 5-2 – 20 Mar 1926 – Plymouth & District League
26 – Woodland Villa (A) – W 5-2 – 20 Mar 1926 – Plymouth & District League
27 – Torpoint (H) – W 5-2 – 27 Mar 1926 – Plymouth & District League
28 – Tavistock (H) – W 3-0 – 24 Apr 1926 – Plymouth & District League
29 – Liskeard (H) – W 3-2 – 26 Apr 1926 – Plymouth & District League
30 – Saltash Stars (H) – W 6-3 – 1 May 1926 – Plymouth & District League
31 – Saltash Stars (H) – W 6-3 – 1 May 1926 – Plymouth & District League
32 – Saltash Stars (H) – W 6-3 – 1 May 1926 – Plymouth & District League
33 – Plymouth St Thomas (A) – W 3-1 – 18 Dec 1926 – Plymouth & District League
34 – Wadebridge (H) – W 4-0 – 28 Dec 1926 – Plymouth & District League
35 – Wadebridge (H) – W 4-0 – 28 Dec 1926 – Plymouth & District League
36 – Torpoint (H) – W 2-0 – 26 Feb 1927 – Plymouth & District League
37 – Royal Marines (H) – W 1-0 – 8 Apr 1927 – Plymouth & District League
38 – Wadebridge (H) – W 9-2 – 5 Nov 1927 – Plymouth & District League Division One
39 – Wadebridge (H) – W 9-2 – 5 Nov 1927 – Plymouth & District League Division One
40 – Wadebridge (H) – W 9-2 – 5 Nov 1927 – Plymouth & District League Division One
41 – Plympton (A) – W 2-0 – 19 Nov 1927 – Plymouth & District League Division One
42 – Plymouth St Thomas (A) – W 4-0 – 17 Dec 1927 – Plymouth & District League Division One
43 – Plymouth St Thomas (H) – W 6-0 – 24 Dec 1927 – Plymouth & District League Division One
44 – Plymouth St Thomas (H) – W 6-0 – 24 Dec 1927 – Plymouth & District League Division One
45 – Green Waves (H) – W 8-2 – 26 Dec 1927 – Plymouth & District League Division One
46 – Tavistock (H) – W 5-2 – 7 Jan 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
47 – Torpoint (H) – W 4-2 – 14 Jan 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
48 – Looe (A) – L 3-4 – 4 Feb 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
49 – Green Waves (A) – L 3-5 – 18 Feb 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
50 – Green Waves (A) – L 3-5 – 18 Feb 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
51 – Plympton (H) – W 6-0 – 6 Apr 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
52 – Woodland Villa (H) – W 7-2 – 7 Apr 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
53 – Woodland Villa (H) – W 7-2 – 7 Apr 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
54 – Woodland Villa (H) – W 7-2 – 7 Apr 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
55 – Royal Marines (A) – L 2-6 – 14 Apr 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
56 – St Austell (H) – W 4-0 – 7 Sep 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
57 – Plymouth United (H) – W 2-1 – 29 Sep 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
58 – Royal Marines (H) – W 2-0 – 6 Oct 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
59 – Civil Service (H) – D 3-3 – 20 Oct 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
60 – Wadebridge United (H) – W 4-2 – 17 Nov 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
61 – Wadebridge United (H) – W 4-2 – 17 Nov 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
62 – Wadebridge United (H) – W 4-2 – 17 Nov 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
63 – Wadebridge United (A) – W 4-1 – 15 Dec 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
64 – Looe (H) – W 3-1 – 22 Dec 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
65 – Torpoint (H) – D 3-3 – 26 Dec 1928 – Plymouth & District League Division One
66 – Royal Marines (A) – D 1-1 – 19 Jan 1929 – Plymouth & District League Division One
67 – Royal Navy Barracks (H) – D 4-4 – 16 Mar 1929 – Plymouth & District League Division One
68 – 1st Wilts Regiment (H) – W 4-1 – 29 Mar 1929 – Plymouth & District League Division One
69 – Dartmouth (H) – W 3-1 – 7 Sep 1929 – Plymouth & District League Division One
70 – Plympton (A) – W 3-1 – 28 Sep 1929 – Plymouth & District League Division One
71 – Tavistock (A) – W 6-0 – 26 Oct 1929 – Plymouth & District League Division One
72 – Tavistock (A) – W 6-0 – 26 Oct 1929 – Plymouth & District League Division One
73 – Tavistock (A) – W 6-0 – 26 Oct 1929 – Plymouth & District League Division One
74 – Torpoint (H) – L 2-3 – 26 Dec 1929 – Plymouth & District League Division One
75 – Torpoint (A) – W 3-0 – 4 Jan 1930 – Plymouth & District League Division One
76 – Tavistock (H) – W 6-2 – 25 Jan 1930 – Plymouth & District League Division One
77 – Plymouth United (H) – W 5-0 – 23 Apr 1930 – Plymouth & District League Division One
78 – Plymouth United (H) – W 5-0 – 23 Apr 1930 – Plymouth & District League Division One
79 – Saltash (H) – W 3-1 – 3 May 1930 – Plymouth & District League Division One
80 – St Austell (A) – W 4-2 – 6 Sep 1930 – Plymouth & District League Division One
81 – Saltash Town (H) – W 3-1 – 13 Sep 1930 – Plymouth & District League Division One
82 – Royal Marines (H) – D 1-1 – 25 Sep 1930 – Plymouth & District League Division One
83 – St Blazey (H) – W 1-0 – 28 Dec 1931 – Cornwall Senior League
84 – Royal Navy Barracks (A) – W 4-0 – 6 Feb 1932 – Cornwall Senior League
85 – Torpoint (H) – W 5-0 – 25 Mar 1932 – Cornwall Senior League
86 – Wadebridge (H) – W 4-1 – 30 Sep 1933 – Cornwall Senior League
Cornwall Senior Cup
1 – St Austell (H) – W 4-0 – 4 Nov 1922 – Western Division
2 – Porthleven (A) – L 2-3 – 11 Nov 1922 – Western Division
3 – Newquay (H) – W 3-2 – 1 Dec 1922 – Western Division
4 – St Blazey (A) – W 2-0 – 6 Jan 1923 – Western Division
5 – Falmouth (H) – W 4-1 – 13 Jan 1923 – Western Division
6 – Helston (A) – D 1-1 – 10 Feb 1923 – Western Division
7 – St Austell (A) – W 2-1 – 17 Feb 1923 – Western Division
8 – Flushing (H) – W 3-0 – 9 Mar 1923 – Western Division
9 – Helston (H) – W 7-1 – 20 Mar 1925
10 – Helston (H) – W 7-1 – 20 Mar 1925
11 – St Dennis (H) – W 4-0 – 2 Jan 1926 – Western Division Group C
12 – Long Rock (H) – W 7-0 – 25 Sep 1926 – Western Division
13 – Porthleven (A) – W 7-1 – 6 Nov 1926 – Western Division
14 – Porthleven (A) – W 7-1 – 6 Nov 1926 – Western Division
15 – Porthleven (A) – W 7-1 – 6 Nov 1926 – Western Division
16 – Porthleven (A) – W 7-1 – 6 Nov 1926 – Western Division
17 – Long Rock (A) – W 3-1 – 20 Nov 1926 – Western Division
18 – Flushing (A) – W 10-0 – 8 Jan 1927 – Western Division
19 – Flushing (A) – W 10-0 – 8 Jan 1927 – Western Division
20 – Flushing (A) – W 10-0 – 8 Jan 1927 – Western Division
21 – St Austell (A) – W 4-1 – 19 Feb 1927 – Western Division
22 – St Austell (A) – W 4-1 – 19 Feb 1927 – Western Division
23 – Tintagel (N) – W 8-0 – 26 Mar 1927 – Triangular Tournament
24 – Falmouth (H) – W 7-1 – 21 Oct 1927 – Western Division
25 – Falmouth (H) – W 7-1 – 21 Oct 1927 – Western Division
26 – St Dennis (A) – W 3-2 – 29 Oct 1927 – Western Division
27 – St Blazey (A) – W 5-2 – 12 Nov 1927 – Western Division
Long Rock (H) – W 6-0 – 26 Nov 1927 – Western Division
Long Rock (H) – W 6-0 – 26 Nov 1927 – Western Division
28 – Flushing (H) – W 7-1 – 10 Dec 1927 – Western Division
29 – Flushing (H) – W 7-1 – 10 Dec 1927 – Western Division
30 – St Blazey (H) – W 9-0 – 28 Jan 1928 – Western Division
31 – Flushing (A) – W 9-0 – 25 Feb 1928 – Western Division
32 – St Austell (H) – D 3-3 – 3 Mar 1928 – Western Division
33 – St Austell (A) – W 4-1 – 17 Mar 1928 – Western Division Replay
34 – St Austell (A) – W 4-1 – 17 Mar 1928 – Western Division Replay
35 – Tintagel (H) – W 5-1 – 9 Apr 1928 – Final
36 – Tintagel (H) – W 5-1 – 9 Apr 1928 – Final
37 – St Dennis (H) – W 7-2 – 3 Nov 1928
38 – St Dennis (H) – W 7-2 – 3 Nov 1928
39 – St Dennis (H) – W 7-2 – 3 Nov 1928
40 – St Dennis (A) – W 4-1 – 9 Nov 1929 – Western Division
41 – St Dennis (A) – W 4-1 – 9 Nov 1929 – Western Division
42 – St Blazey (H) – W 4-0 – 30 Nov 1929 – Western Division
43 – St Austell (A) – D 2-2 – 19 Dec 1931 – Western Division
44 – St Blazey (H) – W 3-1 – 23 Jan 1932 – Western Division
45 – St Blazey (H) – W 3-1 – 23 Jan 1932 – Western Division
46 – Wadebridge (H) – L 3-4 – 13 Feb 1932 – Western Division
47 – Liskeard (A) – W 8-2 – 2 Oct 1933
48 – Torpoint (A) – L 4-5 – 4 Nov 1933
49 – Torpoint (A) – L 4-5 – 4 Nov 1933
50 – Wadebridge United (H) – D 3-3 – 16 Dec 1933
Cornwall Charity Cup
1 – Flushing (N) – W 2-0 – 6 Dec 1924
2 – Saltash Stars (N) – W 3-2 – 8 May 1926 – Final
3 – Saltash Stars (N) – W 3-2 – 8 May 1926 – Final
4 – Looe (N) – W 3-1 – 11 May 1929 – Final
5 – Newquay (H) – W 4-3 – 25 Nov 1933 – 1st Round
6 – Newquay (H) – W 4-3 – 25 Nov 1933 – 1st Round
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Honours
🏆 Cornwall Senior League winner (1931-1932)
🏆🏆🏆🏆 Cornwall Senior Cup winner (1923-1924, 1926-1927, 1927-1928, 1929-1930)
🏆🏆🏆 Cornwall Charity Cup winner (1925-1926, 1928-1929, 1929-1930)
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From the press
Well known in Truro and throughout the county as a sportsman, and a member of an ardent Roman Catholic family, Mr John James Joseph (Joe) Bertolucci, aged 39, died at his residence, 40 Pydar Street, Truro, on Friday, after three months’ illness. A native of Truro who served during the Great War, Mr Bertolucci was the eldest son of the late Mr Antonio Bertolucci, and Mrs Bertolucci, of 2 Fairmantle Street, Truro. Mr Antonio Bertolucci, who was an Italian, came to Truro as a sculptor, and was for many years employed by Messrs. Harvey and Co. Mr Joe Bertolucci was educated at Bosvigo School, and for several years was a bridgeman at Truro Railway Station. For the past 15 years he had been employed with the Truro Post Office Engineering Department. For nearly 10 years he had been a linesman. Mr Bertolucci had played football for Truro City, Cornwall County, Truro Old Comrades, G. W. R., and Truro Post Office. He was also a member of Truro City Swimming Club and Truro Post Office Skittles team. Three weeks ago he was taken to Tehidy Sanatorium, and was removed home on Tuesday. Besides his mother, one brother, who is at present seriously ill at the Royal Cornwall Infirmary, and four sisters, Mr Bertolucci leaves a widow, formerly Miss Evelyn Pascoe, and two sons.
West Briton & Cornwall Advertiser – Thursday 8 September 1938
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Personal Life
His parents were father Antonio Bertolucci – born in Lucca, Italy in 1849 and passed away in 1911 and his mother was Eliza Bertolucci – born in Truro in 1858 and passed away in 1940. Joe had two sons, Victor Guiseppe Bertolucci (1924-1997) and Joseph Bertolucci.
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TCFC 1889 