The small church of the Good Shepherd in the centre of Torrisholme, was packed on Tuesday, for the service of thanksgiving for the life of Joe MacMahon, long time Vale member and one of the game’s great characters.
Rugby enthusiasts from all over the North attended the funeral and heard Canon D Cooper describe Joe – many knew him as Guiness Joe – as a larger than life character. And that was the theme of others with Vale president Phil Sutcliffe and Press Officer Stuart Vernon both eulogising about a man who will never be forgotten at Powderhouse Lane. Both told tales of Joe the rugby player, Joe the referee, Joe the chef and Joe the tourist. There was humour and there were hymns sung with gusto by Joe’s old club mates.
Afterwards friends and family met at the Vale and there was total agreement that the service had captured everything about Joe, a good family man, good club man, and good companion.
