One of the great centre forwards for St Brendan’s Park FC, John Joe Naughton, passed gently from this life today, December 5th, 2012, after a battle bravely fought over several years.
‘Knocka’ was an integral part of the strike force of ‘The Park’ for many years. When his playing days ended he stayed involved with the club, at managerial level, and made a vital contribution to the growth of the club which has blossomed from one team in 1971 to one of the biggest clubs in Kerry today.
In the pioneering days John Joe was one of the most feared strikers in the game and won every domestic honour with ‘The Park’ and many of the trophies won were due to goals that John Joe had netted.
His sons, Michael and Tommy, became members of the club at underage level with Tommy continuing in his fathers footsteps by scoring many vital goals and at present is part of a very successful A squad management team.
John Joe was a big man who was almost impossible to mark and took the punishment from tough defenders who tried to curtail his energy. The fact that he never complained in his playing was evident in his final days also as he accepted the pains and strains of his illness with dignity.
As we extend our sympathies to his mom and his immediate family we can almost hear him sing a few lines from his favourite song….……….. the Rhinestone Cowboy.
