The Sydney Swans Football Club has made a touching tribute to late club icon Kenny Williams by honouring his legacy at the SCG.
The Swans on Monday unveiled the two seats at the SCG’s Noble Stand — where Kenny, who volunteered at the club in multiple roles, and his wife Yvonne sat to watch “countless” games together — marked red and white with “Kenny Williams” and Yvonne Williams” engraved marked on them.
Monday would’ve been Kenny’s 94th birthday, having passed away in November last year.
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His family including Yvonne gathered at the ground with Swans officials and SCG CEO Kerrie Mather to share the moment together including spreading some of Kenny’s ashes on the centre of the oval.
In a video posted to Sydney’s social media, an emotional Yvonne breaks down in tears when she’s first told of the tribute.
“When I first heard, I just could not believe they were honouring my dad in this way,” Kenny and Yvonne’s daughter Diane Williams Harapin says in the video.
“Mum’s just found out, I kept this secret. It’s the biggest I’ve kept in my whole life from mum. And I’m glad I kept it, because just watching her there with the CEO of the SCG and the people representing the Sydney Swans.
“She was just so in the moment, it was really beautiful.
“It’s just such an amazing thing because volunteerism just makes the world go round — people who do good things for other people and don’t expect everything in return like dad.
“Getting honoured this way is a profound message and I just want to thank everyone so much.”
Swans head of player wellbeing and development Brett Kirk added: “What a special day, we all love Kenny Williams, such an important fabric of our footy club.
“To be at the SCG, a place where I’ve got fond memories and I’m sure anyone who follows the Swans and footy would have fond memories of Kenny at the MCG.
“For Kenny to be here now all the time is such a special memory for everyone.”
Diane shared a separate statement on the behalf of the entire family below.
On behalf of my mother Yvonne and our family, we would like to thank Kerrie Mather, CEO and Phil Heads from the SCG, and Tom Harley CEO of the Sydney Swans for this huge 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.
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.
