Gaelic Football Club
The Detroit WolfeTones are based in Southeastern Michigan whose mission is the promotion, development and continuation of one of the oldest most exciting sports in the world: Gaelic Football. Gaelic Football has been described as a cross between soccer, basketball and rugby. One of the two national sports of Ireland it has been played for centuries in the towns, villages and parishes throughout the country. The game is played by teams of 13-15 aside on a rectangular grass pitch with H-shaped goals at each end. The primary object is to score by kicking the ball or striking the ball with your hand ultimately getting it in the goal net for 3 points or above the goal and through the uprights for 1 point. The team with the highest score at the end of the match wins. The modern day sport in Ireland, while amateur in status, is played at a professional like level. The annual national championship game, The All-Ireland Football Final, is played every September in Dublin at the national Gaelic stadium, Croke Park, before over 80,000 fans.
Like all the clubs in the Unites States the WolfeTones are part of the international governing body of Gaelic Football, The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) which was officially formed in 1884. Annually, clubs from throughout the United States compete with the ultimate goal of reaching the North American County Board Championships which are held every Labor Day weekend in a different city each year.
The WolfeTones, since forming in 1982, have represented the USA in Ireland, captured three (3) North American Men’s Football Championships and one (1) one Youth Championship. The club competes in the Mid-West Division which includes clubs from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo.