The funeral takes place of Joe Grainger today.

If you would like to take a moment at 3.00pm to join us in reflecting in your own way.  It may be for Joe or it may include another loss personal to you.

Joe’s family have asked that donations be made as follows:

Leukaemia & Intensive Chemotherapy Fund – LINC Sort Code 30-95-72 (Lloyds Bank, Cheltenham) Account No.00610628 (name LINC)

Cancer Research UK Sort Code 56-00-13 (NatWest, Southampton) Account No. 22994270 (name REGIONAL)”

Joe played for Gloster Jets and Swindon Sonics, spent time with Manchester Giants and progressed as a junior England international before focusing on coaching and volunteering.  

Joe Grainger (centre) was a popular member of the Gloucester Saxons club

Panji said: “My brother Joe had been battling leukemia for a while and had recently succumbed to Covid-19. As a family we are taking our time coming to terms with this sad event. 

“Given the restrictions on travel and movement it makes this ever more challenging, but we will find a way to remember the positives and continue to move forward. Joe was and will always be remembered as a character that left a memorable footprint on everyone.  

“Anyone that met Joe will always have a fun story to tell.” 

Unique and widely loved

Gloucester Saxons chairman Darren Cooke said: “We have lost a unique and widely loved member of our basketball family. 

“Joe Grainger most recently served the game as chairman of Gloucester Saxons.  Not only that but Joe co-ordinated Glozball, training of officials and coaches, matches for multiple junior age group teams and so enabled thousands of court hours for players from Gloucester and beyond. 

“We will celebrate all that Joe brought to our lives properly very soon. In the meantime, our thoughts go out to Joe’s family, close friends and every life he touched. 

Saxons clubmate Danny James said: “He was the most inclusive coach and person I’ve ever worked alongside, at the outdoor court he would encourage onlookers to get involved, and would create teams to involve everybody. As a coach he would engage with everybody from those just picking up a ball to those on the player pathway. 

“Joe was an inspiration to many and was always willing and ready to chat about the game he loved so much,” 

He led by example

Former Gloster Jets mentor Paul Christensen added: “Despite attending a school where no basketball was played, Joe was an outstanding member of the Gloster Jets teams for a number of years, and captained the team in what was then the National Junior League in 1978-9.  He was always determined to make the very most of his ability.   

“His university place took him to the North West, playing his final junior year at Ellesmere Port, then moving on to Bury and Manchester as player and assistant coach. He led by example on court and had the highest expectations of himself and others, whilst having a very dry sense of humour.” 

Friend and Basketball England director Graham Biggs said: “Joe was a friend, a baller and a legend that kept going through adversities. Even when floored by illness, Joe would still be opening up and making it possible for the next generation of ballers to show up in Glozball Central Venue Leagues all weekend.  

“His taunting of my practicing free shots with ‘he’s a netball player’ still echoes. 

“All at Basketball England extend our condolences to Joe’s family and friends.”