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‘Loss of a legend’: Sydney Swans mourn passing of club icon Kenny Williams

Whenever the Sydney Swans won a game Kenny Williams was right there to sing the team song, and now the club is mourning his death.

 
2 min read
November 2, 2022 - 6:24PM
NCA NewsWire
Swans stalwart and No.1 fan Kenny Williams has died. Picture. Phil Hillyard
Swans stalwart and No.1 fan Kenny Williams has died. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Past and present Sydney Swans stars have paid tribute to one of the club‘s most famous faces after the death of “the man in the middle” Kenny Williams.

Of the Sydney’s biggest and most recognisable supporters, Williams, who for so long was front and centre whenever the Swans sang their team song after a victory and was a changeroom fixture for decades, died on Tuesday, aged 93.

It moved club great Jude Bolton to laud Williams as “a legend” for his “passionate post-game singing, his support for us … and advice over a home-cooked meal”.

Former Swans captain Brett Kirk called Williams “a bloody legend! One of a kind. He bleed red n white and made up part of the fabric of our club without kicking a footy.”

Premiership winning defender ted Richards said Williams “owned” the 10 minutes after every win and “was also there for us in the losses”.

The Swans declared Williams “brought so much cheer to all who knew him” in a tribute to a man who was more than their No.1 fan.

“We are incredibly saddened by the passing of Kenny Williams, an amazing man who dedicated his life to the red & white.

“We send our condolences to Yvonne, Dianne, his family & friends during this time.”

Williams was born in South Melbourne and a lifelong supporter of the club, even when he moved to Sydney in 1949 to work as a jockey.

His beloved team followed him north to become the Swans 33 years and he was invited by then coach Ron Barassi to run water at training for the team in the early 1990s.

Williams became well known to AFL fans for his mop of white hair and his enthusiastic singing of the club song, and he was on hand when the Swans broke their premiership drought in 2005.

He was also front and centre in one of the SCG’s most infamous moments when Tony Lockett, then a St Kilda star before becoming a Swans favourite, booted a flat torpedo punt towards fans standing behind the goals, including Williams, after being booed relentlessly following a sickening collision with Peter Caven in the same match.

But Williams grew to be much more than just the club’s No.1 fan. He also became a mentor to some players, opening the doors of his Sydney home for the home-cooked meals and advice Bolton praised him for.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/loss-of-a-legend-sydney-swans-mourn-passing-of-club-icon-kenny-williams/news-story/6fcd128bc87f29a8855707528acba9d9