Ike Webb

Webb was born in Worcester. He played for a number of non-league clubs before joining Small Heath in 1898.^[3] He made his debut in the Second Division on 2 April 1898, deputising for Henry Clutterbuck in a 2–1 away win against Luton Town.^[4] Described as "a big, burly goalkeeper with outstanding reflexes, ... quick off his line",^[3] Webb played three more games at the end of the 1897–98 season, and one the following season.^[4] When Clutterbuck left in May 1898, Small Heath brought in the 20-year-old Nat Robinson as first-choice goalkeeper. Webb played once more for Small Heath, in September 1900 – the only game Robinson missed in his first three seasons^[5] – before leaving for West Bromwich Albion in May 1901.^[3]

He achieved regular first-team football with West Bromwich Albion. In his first season, he helped them to the Second Division title, and in three-and-a-half seasons with the club he played 96 league games. In December 1904, he joined Sunderland for a fee of £250. He appeared regularly for the remainder of the 1904–05 season,^[6] but when he fell behind first Tom Naisby and then Bob Ward in the pecking order,^[7] he left for Queens Park Rangers in 1907.^[3] He made his Southern League debut in March 1907, and retired from the game at the end of the 1907–08 season.^[2]

Webb joined the Army, serving as a catering orderly in the West Yorkshire Regiment. He died in Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham, in March 1950 at the age of 75.^[3]