Whilst not a regular Sundown Specials player Joe, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning, will always be remembered with love and affection as a friend to the club and for being one of the funniest, most gentle of men you could come across.

It was through his affiliation with Victoria Park Football Club, a club intrinsically linked with the Specials, that most of us knew Joe. He played for the Park for around 20 years, his sublime skill and ball control somewhat wasted on the mud heaps of North London, meaning he spent a lot of the time with a flag in his hand (typically something the self-effacing Joe would turn into a long running joke). But get him in a five-a-side game and you'd be hard pushed to get the ball from him.

Joe will be best remembered for his kindness and wonderful sense of humour. It's probable that he never had an enemy in the world; he was never one to gossip or have a bad word to say about anyone. As for his humour he was the absolute master of the understatement.

He spoke quietly which meant by sitting next him amongst a crowd one could simply repeat his jokes loudly and bask in the glory of the laughter. When this ploy was found out you had the prefix the joke with "Joe said" which meant you could still get the attention but without the credit. "Joe said" actually became a catchphrase amongst his friends after a while. Some people even added, "Joe said" to their own jokes in the belief that it gave them more magnitude.

Joe did everything at his own pace, which by his own admission was pretty slowly. This is not a criticism it just meant he never needed to rush around; he'd always get there in the end. (Although he did once complain that the television remote control was a little labour intensive and that 'they' should do something about it).

Well Joe, you are truly going to be greatly missed, but if there is a heaven, the gates will be wide open for you and if you could just save us a few seats near the bar……..

All our love and thoughts go out to Katrina and Joe's family.