Every year is rain or shine for two families that come together to play a game of football every Thanksgiving morning. It is a tradition they have honored for decades, with players from all generations getting in on the fun.The Mahoney and Finnigan families have shared this Thanksgiving tradition for six decades. Sixty-five years that the oldest members of the families look back on fondly.”It’s great to be able to show up every year. For a lot of people, it’s the only time we get to see them during the year,” said first-generation Turkey Bowler Michael Mahoney.This year’s game brought in nearly a hundred people from all across Vermont, some even traveling from out-of-state to mark the annual occasion.Players say it is always a toss-up who actually takes home the hold in the end.”I think we have won more,” said Mahoney. “But if you talk to one of the Finnigans, they would probably dispute that.””The Finnigans win every year, 65 in a row,” said Brian Finnigan.They all agree that what makes the tradition so special is spending it with one another.”You are friends with people that you see once a year, and you come out to see them, and everyone has a laugh and a good time. Football is almost secondary to seeing everyone,” said Finnigan.Everyone on and off the field says they are already counting the days until next year.
Every year is rain or shine for two families that come together to play a game of football every Thanksgiving morning. It is a tradition they have honored for decades, with players from all generations getting in on the fun.
The Mahoney and Finnigan families have shared this Thanksgiving tradition for six decades. Sixty-five years that the oldest members of the families look back on fondly.
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“It’s great to be able to show up every year. For a lot of people, it’s the only time we get to see them during the year,” said first-generation Turkey Bowler Michael Mahoney.
This year’s game brought in nearly a hundred people from all across Vermont, some even traveling from out-of-state to mark the annual occasion.
Players say it is always a toss-up who actually takes home the hold in the end.
“I think we have won more,” said Mahoney. “But if you talk to one of the Finnigans, they would probably dispute that.”
“The Finnigans win every year, 65 in a row,” said Brian Finnigan.
They all agree that what makes the tradition so special is spending it with one another.
“You are friends with people that you see once a year, and you come out to see them, and everyone has a laugh and a good time. Football is almost secondary to seeing everyone,” said Finnigan.
Everyone on and off the field says they are already counting the days until next year.
