Joseph James Rogers (born 1876)[1] was an English professional footballer who played either as a forward or full back for Southampton, Grimsby Town and Newcastle United.
Born in Foleshill, near Coventry (then in Warwickshire),[1] Rogers was playing for Macclesfield when he was signed by Southampton in December 1894, midway through the inaugural Southern League season.
Shortly after joining "the Saints" he scored ten goals in a friendly match against the Wiltshire Regiment, which was won 13–0 on a quagmire of a pitch at Southampton's Antelope Ground.
In this position "his speed, control and kicking ability came in useful",[3] but Rogers soon became unsettled on the south coast and moved to Grimsby Town in May 1896.
He made such an impression in Newcastle's first two First Division seasons that he was selected to join a FA tour of Germany, scoring five goals in one of the three matches in which he appeared.