Fred Williams (Australian footballer, born 1919)

Frederick "Fred" Williams (28 August 1919[1] – 3 April 2007) was an Australian rules football player and coach who played for the Subiaco Football Club in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL) between 1938 and 1950, also coaching the club between 1948 and 1949. He also played representative football for Western Australia between 1946 and 1948.

For the Carlton and Fitzroy player, see Fred Williams (Australian footballer, born 1900).

Fred Williams
Personal information
Full name Frederick Williams
Date of birth 28 August 1919
Date of death 3 April 2007(2007-04-03) (aged 87)
Original team(s) West Subiaco (MFL)
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 78 kg (172 lb)
Position(s) Utility
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1938–50 Subiaco 129 (unknown)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1946–48 Western Australia 4 (1)
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1948–49 Subiaco 37 (7–30–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1950.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Career

Originally from the West Subiaco Football Club in the Metropolitan Football League (MFL), Williams made his debut for Subiaco in 1938. He left the club in June 1939 to train with the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL),[2] however, the WANFL were unwilling to approve a transfer, despite Geelong's protests.[3] Williams returned to Subiaco for the 1940 season, which The Western Mail reported "created considerable interest, and came as a complete surprise to those 'not in the know'".[4] In 1941, Williams finished third in the Sandover Medal behind teammate Haydn Bunton and Ern Henfry of Perth.[5]

At the conclusion of the 1941 season, Williams enlisted in the Australian Army. He served in New Guinea and New Britain during the war, and played in several army football teams, which included captaining a team which included Bernie Naylor and other senior footballers.[6] Williams returned to football in 1946, and was named captain, kicking 22 goals to be Subiaco's leading goalkicker,[7] as well as winning the club's best and fairest award, the President's Trophy.[8] He also represented Western Australia in three interstate matches during the season.[9] When not playing football, he worked as a meter reader for the Water Supply Department.[6] In 1948, Williams was appointed coach of Subiaco.[10] The club was generally unsuccessful during Williams' tenure as coach, losing over 80% of its games. He resigned as both captain and coach for the 1950 season, and announced his retirement at the end of the season, having "reached the stage where he preferred to make way for another man".[11]

In 2005, Williams was named Subiaco's "Club Legend" for the season, a WAFL initiative allowing "each club to honour a past champion by displaying their image and career details on the match ball for that particular season".[12] He died in April 2007 at the age of 87.[13] In 2008, Williams was named as an interchange player in Subiaco's Team of the Century.[14]

References
  1. "Fred Williams (Subiaco)". wafl.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  2. SUBIACO STAR FOR GEELONG – The Argus. Published 26 June 1939. Retrieved from Trove, 15 January 2012.
  3. WILLIAMS AND GEELONG – The Argus. Published 13 July 1939. Retrieved from Trove, 15 January 2012.
  4. Sporting Highlights – The Western Mail. Written by Alex Barras. Published 11 April 1940. Retrieved from Trove, 15 January 2012.
  5. SANDOVER MEDAL FOR BUNTON – Barrier Miner. Published 20 September 1941. Retrieved from Trove, 15 January 2012.
  6. FOOTBALLERS ON MONDAY – The Western Mail. Published 1 August 1946. Retrieved from Trove, 15 January 2012.
  7. Frederick Williams (Subiaco) – FullPointsFooty. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  8. SUBIACO TROPHIES – The West Australian. Published 14 December 1946. Retrieved from Trove, 15 January 2012.
  9. State Games 1904–1950 – wafootball.com.au. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  10. FOOTBALL – The Western Mail. Published 4 March 1948. Retrieved from Trove, 15 January 2012.
  11. F. WILLIAMS PREFERS TO WATCH – The West Australian. Published 5 May 1950. Retrieved from Trove, 15 January 2012.
  12. Peter Featherby: Subiaco's Legend for 2007 – wafootball.com.au. Posted 2 February 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  13. Subiaco legend passes away – FootyGoss. Posted 6 April 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  14. Subiaco: 'Official Team of the Century' Archived 11 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine – FullPointsFooty. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
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