Tributes paid to legendary former Ilkeston Town keeper and local entertainer following his death aged 93

Tributes are being paid to a former Ilkeston Town goalkeeper who has died at the age of 93.

Born on 20th February 1932, Donald Willam Joe Sharman was originally from Kettering in Northamptonshire.

Known professionally as 'Joe Sharman', he held the record of minutes without conceding a goal at Ilkeston Town FC, until it was broken by Dan Lowson in 2009. He played 158 games for the Robins between 1951 and 1955. He helped his club to win the league in all four seasons he played for them and even scored a goal, despite being a goalkeeper.  His final point of recognition for the Robins was in the 1960s, when he returned to take part in an Ilkeston Past vs Ilkeston Present charity game.

Prior to that, he also played for Derby County between 1948 and 1951 and latterly, Gresley Rovers from 1955 to May 1956, making 44 appearances for Rovers and keeping 10 clean sheets with them.

After suffering a spinal injury, he retired from the sport in 1960 and began singing, touring the pubs and clubs of the region as well as out towards the East Coast for around 20 years, until he decided to retire from showbiz although he was coaxed out of retirement by his daughter 15 years later as she followed in her father's footsteps and a partnership began.  Joe was also known for being a pool champion and once unofficially beat the Olympic pole vaulting record. 

In 2020, at the age of 88, the father of seven released a Christmas song which had been in the family for years titled 'It'll Soon Be Christmas' which was accompanied by a video. (Above)

Mr. Sharman died on 6th February 2025. A celebration of his life will be held at Derby Cathedral on 12th March 2025 from 12:15pm.  The family encourage any former friends, colleagues, fans or anyone wishing to pay their final respects, to attend from 12noon.

Daughter Jolianna Davis took to social media to encourage Derby County fans to clap for Joe in the 32nd minute - 32 being the year of his birth - of their game against Millwall on Saturday 22nd February.  A similar tribute has been arranged for Ilkeston Town's game on 1st March, when, again, fans will be asked to clap for Joe during the 32nd minute.

Paying tribute, and describing Joe's battle with illness, she said: "My dad always told me he would live to be 100 years old and from a man that achieved so much, often against the odds I had no reason to doubt him. Sadly it wasn’t to be and I find myself writing an announcement, I dared to hope I wouldn’t have to.

"On 6th February, after suffering three heart attacks, three times, his huge heart stopped and three times he survived CPR to fight on and spend three more precious days with us, it was time to say goodbye. So, around his hospital bed with those that loved him the most, we reminisced, played music and filled his bedside with love. He told us he loved us all and asked who was getting off at the next stop as he fantasised that he was on a train journey. Peacefully with music playing softly and his hand safe in my grip he reached his final destination, just shy of his 93rd birthday."

In a pre-recorded tribute to Joe for Erewash Sound, Jolieanna added; "Joe Sharman will be not only remembered for his theatrical place on the football pitch but for his stadium to stage career as a semi-professional singer. Joe's singing career carried him through into his 80s. He appeared on The X Factor in 2017, and also released a Christmas single, famously played on Erewash Sound at the age of 88."