It was in 1936 that he gained his full international cap for England in the match against Belgium. Although playing for Arsenal occasionally at that time, he was registered as a Casuals’ player and he is recorded as a Casuals, not Arsenal player, for that match. He never turned professional and was the last amateur to win a full England cap; a record that will never be broken.

Before joining Arsenal in 1935, Joy played for Southend United between 1931 and 1933 and for Fulham in 1933 and 1934. He joined Arsenal in 1935, playing only one match that year in the Charity Shield and making his league debut against Bolton in April 1936. Until October 1937 Joy played mainly for the reserves, deputising for the established centre half, Herbie Roberts. When Roberts broke his Leg, Joy took his place in the side for the remainder of the 1937-38 season, gaining a First Division winner’s medal and Charity Shield winner’s medal also

When war broke out in 1939, Joy signed up to join the RAF but still played for Arsenal during the war - more than 200 matches - winning an unofficial war time cap too. When peace broke out and first class football resumed, he played for the first part of the 1946-47 season but decided that his age was against him and retired; his last game being against Sheffield United on the 2^nd November 1946. In all, he played 95 first class games for Arsenal.

After his retirement, Joy moved into journalism, writing first for the London Star and, eventually, the London Evening Standard. He was awarded the OBE for services to journalism in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Honours list in 1977.