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Bill Williams

show_image.php?id=37647Melbourne Rules - Challenge Cup Competition
DOB: 1849 Geelong
DOD: 19 May 1891
Original Carlton Football Club player.
Career: 1864 - 1876


Blueseum did have his place of birth as Wales UK but according to WikiTree, Bill was born in Geelong.

William Cornelius "Billy" Williams Jnr.

1864 A pioneer player, born in 1847 Billy would have been 17 in 1864.

1868 Outstanding player for Carlton during the season.
(The Carlton Story. H.Buggy and H.Bell p6,17)
W. Williams named in squad to play Emerald Hill at Emerald Hill Saturday 6th. June 1868.

1869 A leading player for 1869.
(Centenary Souvenir of Carlton football Club, p8)

1870 One of 12 Carlton players to play in the season opener North vs South game.


Played in Challenge Cup match against Albert Park on June 18 1870 at the Royal Park ground, which was inches deep in slush.
The game ended in a draw.
(The Carlton Story H.Buggy and H.Bell p24)

1871 Played in the South Yarra Challenge Cup championship game against Albert Park which Carlton won.

One of Carlton's stars of the early 1870's.
(The Herald. June 14 1919.)

1875 W. Williams named in The Argus as playing in a Carlton First Twenty side against a Carlton 25 team in a scratch match at Royal Park on Saturday 8th. May.

1875 Played for many seasons with credit, a capital mark, and useful player.

W. Williams scored one goal for Carlton Second Twenty during the 1875 season.
(The Footballer 1875. p27, 56)

1891 May 20
The Argus.
Deaths.
Williams - On the 19 inst., at his late residence, Flower Hotel, Drummond-street, Carlton, William C. Williams, aged 44, late of the Victorian Railways.
Members of the Carlton Football Club are invited to follow the remains of the late WILLIAM C. WILLIAMS to their last resting-place the Melbourne General Cemetery.
The funeral will leave his late residence, Flower Hotel Drummond-street, Carlton, at 3 o'clock sharp. W. C. Donaldson, Hon. Sec.

LITTLE MARKS

1891 May 20
"William Williams, a Carlton footballer, 20 years of age, is dead. He was one of the originators of "little marks."
(Australian Star (Sydney) May 20 p6)
As Bill was 44 when he died, perhaps the newspaper meant that he was a footballer 20 years ago?

AN OLD CARLTON FOOTBALLER - THE ORIGIN OF LITTLE MARKS


"Mr. Wiliam Williams whose demise occured on the 18th inst., was for many years associated with the Carlton Football Club, formerly as a player and later as an honorary member.
"Willy" as he was familiarly called, joined the club as a full back in 1866, a few months after he entered the railways as an engineer. His brother Joe was in the club also, and the services of the brothers
were always called into requisition for any big matches. "Willy" was the most successful all round man, but it was on the wing that he shone brightest. A pretty sight was his peculiar kicking, which soon
gained him a name. He could with the utmost ease "screw kick" at direct right angles and generally chose that style too. Taking the leather he would dart across the field and the suddenly land the oval,
as if with the side of his boot in a good line for the "sticks." But the feature of his play was the manner in which he marked to his brother, and in turn received from Joe, at ridiciulously short distances.
The ruse was perfectly legitimate, as may be easliy imagined gained many a point until other players followed the excellent example. These marks afterwards were dubbed "little marks,"
and when the Association was formed in 1876 were recognised by the body as part and parcel of the science.
Many a good battle has "Willy" been engaged in, both on the Royal Park and Madeline street reserves, where rough crowds gathered, and barracking was in its prime. In those dear departed days
the team with the strongest barrackers had the biggest show, for encroachments on the field of play were constant, and the favourites would receive the protection, in their runs, of their supporters;
nor were the efforts of the troopers sufficient to secure fair play.
Of course all this changed later on for the great South Yarra Challenge Cup match, played on neutral ground outside the South Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1871, was fought out on its merits.
"Willy" was in that, as were such sturdy ones as Jack Donovan (captain), Frank Goddard, Billy Dedman (now running a newsagency in Elgin-street), J. A. Clark, J. H. Guy, J. McGibbon/ Macgibbon, J. Ellis, Lanty O'Brien, J. Dobson,
F. Gillman, Jack Conway, Tommy Aram, S. Wallace, Blanchard, Tom Gorman, H. Bannister, Frank Wilson, Joe Williams, and G. Kennedy.
Mr. Geo. Coppin was president, and John Walls a "vice." Carlton won the cup by two goals to one against the then Albert Park Club, before perhaps 25,000 people, and "Willy" Williams did good work. Previous to this
the president had been Mr. Robertson (now Colonel) Robertson. It was the big crowd that lent to the Victorian national game the enthusiasm which has since gained such great proportions.
"Willy" was for years a committeeman, and for some time served under Captain Jack Gardiiner - J. Gardiner, Esq., M.L.A. In 1876 a railway collision at Riddles Creek, in which he was, caused some injury to "Willy"
and his active participation in the game ceased.
On his retirement he was presented by his fellow members with a handsome illuminated address in recognition of his past work for the club, and he afterwards continued on as a club member, besides being
associated with several other clubs as honorary member.
His funeral was largely attended by footballers of the old school, and the bearing of the pall - the last tribute of friendship - was effected by Colonel Robertson, J. Gardiner Esq., W. H. Leonard Esq.,M.L.A.'s., and
Mr. W. H. Dedman."

Reproduced from the Carlton Gazette, May 1891, courtesy of the SLV.

The Williams lived at the Flower from January 1885 - 1891. Bill's wife Johanna died one year before Bill. The hotel licence was taken over by Johanna's sister Mary Casey.
For further information see https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Williams-75825

1891 May 23
The Australasian;
"Footballers of the old school will learn with keenest regret, that Mr. W. Williams, who in the seventies was prominent and exceedingly popular member of the Carlton club, has gone to his account.
In his day he was sterling player, full of pluck and determination, and his gallant efforts were often a signal to his side.
For many years the calls of business have precluded his even watching the game he loved so well, but his heart had ever a warm corner in it for his former associates upon the field."

1891 May 26
The Sportsman p7
"Billy Williams, one of Carlton's oldest players, joined the great majority last week. He was the orginator of the little mark, which was the first step to civilise the national game."

Brother of Jim Williams ?
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The hotel was at 240 Drummond Street. This location is now part of the Neill Street Linear Reserve
1889 Carlton Gazette

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Pre VFL Players
Contributors to this page: blueycarlton and Jarusa .
Page last modified on Thursday 15 of February, 2024 12:25:59 AEDT by blueycarlton.

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