“We are the boys from old Fitzroy…”
It’s hard to imagine more appropriate words, penned by Lions great Bill Stephen, to capture the mood and spirit within the 250-strong guests who attended the Fitzroy-Brisbane Lions Historical Society Museum’s Tribute Dinner for Club stalwart Arthur Wilson.
Held recently in Melbourne, a who’s who of former Fitzroy players and officials attended the dinner to pay tribute to one of the most influential people to have shaped our Club. Names like Walls, Parkin, Murphy, Wilson, Serafini, Conlan, Rendell, Harris, Clayton, and Osborne – all unanimous in their adoration of Arthur and the significant impact he has had on their lives.
The junior mascot in the 1944 Fitzroy Premiership, Arthur (or Arty as he’s affectionally known) has given over 50 years of service to the Club as a Committee Member, Recruiter, Team and Football Manager; and post-merger as the co-founder and Chairman of the Historical Society.
It is this latest role that could well be his greatest legacy, ensuring that the rich heritage and spirit of Fitzroy lives on strongly within the Brisbane Lions. A visit to the magnificent Museum at Marvel Stadium, constructed by Arthur, is a lasting example of his tireless dedication and love of the Club.
It was therefore fitting that on this special night it was announced that the space that houses the Historical Society Museum will now officially be known as the ’Arthur Wilson Room’.
This was just one of many revelations of the night. Revelations like David Parkin telling the story of when he and ‘Arty’ went on a recruiting drive to western Victoria, which turned into a nightmare drive when they ran out of petrol not once, but three times – so Arthur could put the least amount of petrol in the car to save the Club money. This determination to make sure Fitzroy stayed afloat was legendary throughout the Club, even leading to him and a select few putting in thousands of dollars of their own money (instead of a mortgage in Arthur’s case), so they could afford to recruit Robert Walls and Bernie Quinlan.
Also legendary was his care and love of the players and coaches. This sentiment was not lost on Hall of Famer John Murphy, who listed the three people he looked up to the most as his Dad, Bill Stephen and Arthur Wilson. Accolades don’t come much higher than that.
But it was the most recent Hall of Fame inductee, Richard Osborne, who beautifully framed how important people such as Arthur Wilson are to the fabric of a Club:
“Clubs aren’t just about coaches and players. We’re one big team. Arthur, we’re honoured to have you as part of the great Fitzroy / Brisbane Lions Football Club, and myself and everyone in the room can’t thank you enough.”
We all can’t thank you enough Arthur. Maybe the best way is singing the last line of that famous old Fitzroy song in September:
“… Premiers we’ll be this year.”
