St Joseph's G.F.C.

History

The history of St Josephs Gaa Club (The Joes) dates back to it's formation in 1947 in the Men's Club attached to St Joseph's Church, Hanwell. The Club held there meetings in an old wooden hut that stood in the grounds of what is still St Joseph's Church.

The team colour was mainly white and blue. The club was originally composed of local Irish lads many of whom came from Kerry. St Josephs won the London Intermediate title in 1947, its first year of existence. The following year they won the London Senior Championship for first and only time, a fantastic achievement in such a short space of time.

The Captain for the team in 1948 was Tom Crean who was from Camp in Kerry. He was also the London Captain of this era. He was related to the famous Tom Crean who went with Sir Ernest Shackleton to the South Pole in the period 1914-1917.

Towards the end of the fifties the original Joes went out of existence. At this stage it left no active Gaa Club in the Borough of Ealing. In 1962 the club was revived and reformed by Pa McAvinue originally from Butlersbridge, Cavan and Pat Kinsley from Castleree, Roscommon. Pa is still active with club to date.

Sadly for the club, A few short years after it had reformed in 1962, Pat Kinsley, the co-founder died, at the age of 37 in July 1968, and is well remembered by all who knew him, friends, family and members down through the years to this day. He is remembered by most people who knew him from his favourite expression 'Listen', -pronounced 'Lishen'.

The reformed Club entered a Junior side and progressed through grades and have achieved many success throughout the decades.