Sydney Swans unveil ‘brilliant’ tribute for late No. 1 fan

A Sydney Swans club icon had been handed the ultimate honour as his name and memory will forever live on at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Lovely tribute for a Swans legend. Photo: Phil Hillyard

The Sydney Swans have unveiled an incredible tribute to No. 1 fan Kenny Williams to ensure the legendary fan’s memory will live on forever.

The Swans renamed two seats after Williams and his wife Yvonne and unveiled the tribute on what would have been his 94th birthday.

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Williams was a staple of Sydney’s celebrations after every victory, standing front and centre whenever the team song was sung.

But Williams passed away last November at the age of 93, which led to an outpouring of grief from around the Swans and the AFL.

What a lovely tribute. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Swans great Jude Bolton called Williams “a legend” and 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”.

But in a fitting tribute to the legendary figure, Williams will now live on at the SCG in spirit every time the Swans play.

Yvonne, their daughter Diane Harapin and their family celebrated the unveiling and later spread some of Kenny’s ashes in the goalsquare.

Diane shared a statement on behalf of the family, thanking the Swans for the honour.

“My father Kenny started his journey with the Sydney Swans as a small child in South Melbourne, however he is most well-known for the variety of volunteer roles he held at the Sydney Cricket Ground since 1982: videographer, trainer, SCG doorman, ambassador, spokesperson, head hydration specialist and leader of the Victory Song. He became affectionately known as Kenny_SCG on social media,” the statement read.

“In the early days, mum was involved with the after-match functions, joining up countless new members, cooking roast dinners for many of the boys over 40 years, providing all players a birthday cake as their surrogate Nana. It has been their greatest pleasure to watch the club grow to have over 50,000 members.

“We are humbled by this generous and thoughtful tribute for all the years of devotion and service of Kenny and Yvonne Williams.”

Kenny Williams will live on forever. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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.