By Gerard Drew
The 114 year-old ticket belonged to a man by the name of Claude Hamilton Jones, and has been generously donated to the Club by Claude’s grandsons, Michael and Kevin.
Claude was a true Williamstown local who married into the Dooley family. His wife was Mary Ellen ‘Nellie’ Dooley, who sadly passed away in April 1919 at the young age of 33 from the deadly Spanish flu.
Her brother, Bill Dooley snr, was the famous former WFC president (1942-46), vice-president (1939-41 & 1947-63), life member and benefactor who bought such legendary figures to the Club such as Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence, Eric ‘Tarzan’ Glass, Ron Todd and Des Fothergill.
Bill’s son, Bill jnr, is also a life member of the Club and his son, also called Bill, played for the Club in 1965 and is the father of (another) Bill, Leigh and Paul, the 1996 JJ Liston Medal winner. So the Williamstown FC connection runs deep in the Jones family.
Michael and Kevin have also generously donated a rare 1933 WD & HO Wills trading card of Williamstown player, Leo Drew, who played 83 games for the Club from 1927-33 and was captain-coach of the Seconds from 1934-36.
Michael is pictured with the 1912 season ticket and Kevin with the trading card.
From the Williamstown Football Club, sincere gratitude is extended to the Jones family for your generous donation to the Club’s historical collection.
