Joseph F Traynor
(1878 – 1884)
Joseph Traynor came to Norwood from Victoria in the latter part of 1878, played in the last match of the season against the Victorians on the Montefiore Hill ground and kicked the winning goal which sealed Norwood’s inaugural premiership.
From 1874 to 1878 before coming to Adelaide, Joe was an outstanding follower for the North Melbourne, Albert Park and Hotham football clubs. In 1877 while at Hotham he was considered the best follower in the colony and described as a ‘fine all round player, very strong and speedy, and a magnificent mark’.
He represented Norwood in seven seasons, was a six time premiership player during the club’s golden era of 1878 to 1883, was the South Australian Football Association’s leading goalkicker in 1880 and played four games for South Australia.
Joe was rated the best player in South Australia in 1879 and Norwood’s best in 1881 and 1882. He also served on the club committee in 1881.
When he retired from the game at the end of the 1884 season he had scored more goals than any other Norwood player.
Joe was an elite performer, a scrupulously fair player, and described variously by journalists of the time … ‘as a dignified, aristocratic personality … a more gentlemanly player never stepped into the football arena … well-known to many of the pioneer supporters of the famous old club … and was a regular at all Norwood games up until his death in 1922, aged 72 years’.
An all-round sportsman, he also contributed to the supremacy of the Norwood cricket team in the 1880’s.
Joe worked as a Customs Officer at Port Adelaide, lived in retirement at Semaphore and never married. His Hall of Fame Certificate will be held therefore by the club and displayed appropriately.
We welcome Joseph Traynor as the 52nd Inductee into the Norwood Football Club Hall of Fame.
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