I've just read this thread and endorse the view that reading Pooleys etc is important to establish if there are unusual joining procedures. But there are pitfalls even there ...
I got caught out at Lydd a few months ago. I was familiar with their published joining procedure .. which is (in summary) approach from the deadside at 1500', descend over the airfield to circuit height, turn downwind (left or right depending on the runway in use), then base and final as usual.
On this particular day ATC asked me to report for the 'overhead' join. I took that to mean a standard overhead join. I thought it was odd but I just assumed procedures had been updated or something. (OK I should have asked ATC and will next time it happens) but anyway I reported for a standard overhead join as requested and got a sarcastic bollocking from the controller: "We don't do standard overhead joins ... don't you read the published procedures etc etc"
Now ... I wouldn't call the published Lydd join as described in Pooley's, an overhead join because that is simply confusing; it's probably better described as a high crosswind join in my view. Whaddya reckon? Are there other types of overhead joins other than 'standard' ones?