Two significant dedications, made during the course of what was a rolling feast of special Centenary events for Wynnum Wolves Football Club during 2021, well and truly lifted a pair of celebrated favourite sons – Eddie Wilkins and Wayne Gracey – to Legend status at Wynnum.
Both Gracey and Wikins have spent the better part of their lives tethered to their beloved Wynnum Wolves across a myriad of roles – those of player, coach, administrator, club president and at times – even saviour. For Gracey, the 2021 Centenary year was his 50th year of continuous involvement at Wynnum as coach of the Under 20 Men’s Divisional team. He also served as somewhat of a savant in helping current club officials recall, record and share the rich history of the 100-year club. Wynnum Wolves FC chose the occasion of club’s 2021 FFA game against Southport on April 4th, 2021 to make a fitting dedication in honour of Gracey and his 50-year journey as a proud Wynnum clubman. The club officially named the No.1 Field at Carmichael Park the WAYNE GRACEY FIELD in his honour. The occasion marked 100 years to the day when Wynnum played their first ever competition game in Brisbane.
Gracy celebrated the occasion with his wife Lesley, son Liam and daughter Meghan on the day.
A talented and hardworking fullback during his playing years, Gracey has remained a passionate and unwavering clubman since he first played for the club as a 12-year-old, even serving as both President and First Grade coach for a period in the 1990s when the club needed his passion, strength and expertise both on and off the pitch. A true gentleman and Life Member of Wynnum Wolves FC, Wayne’s name also graces the club’s most prestigious player award – The Wayne Gracey Medal – which is awarded each year to the Wynnum Wolves FC First Grade Player of the Year.
The names of Wayne Gracey and Eddie Wilkins have held special sway at Wynnum for many years and the two have formed an enduring friendship over the years. Eddie Wilkins played for the club for more than 40 years and spent many more working tirelessly as a club administrator. Wilkins’ moment of honour this year came at the club’s Centenary Year Reunion Day at Carmichael Park in June which included a re-dedication of Field 3 – the Eddie Wilkins Field – in Eddie’s honour. A new sign – which reads as follows – was unveiled on the day in front of a huge crowd of past and present players and club members.
The name Eddie Wilkins will be forever linked to Football in the Wynnum district.
As an accomplished player who wore the club colours with pride for more than 40 years, Wilkins’ contribution to the Wynnum District Football Club stretches far beyond the influence he exercised on the Football pitch. Just as Eddie Wilkins’ on-field role was that of sweeper, diligently and tirelessly protecting the Wynnum goal and the teammates he played alongside, the contributions he made as an administrator of the club during two separate stints as President were equally significant. Wilkins led the Wynnum administration team for a total of nine years in the 1980s and mid-1990s, steering the club through both good times and bad with the same dogged determination and dedication to club he always showed on the pitch. During the 1990s, Wilkins was instrumental in the club’s move from Maramba Stadium to Carmichael Park, which included the monumental task of digging up the sacred soil and turf at the Bognor St ground and transferring it to the club’s new home. The field where this soil and turf was laid at Carmichael Park was later named The Eddie Wilkins Field as a fitting tribute to a true club legend.
Eddie shared the occasion with him family including sons Mark and Paul who also played for the club, and grandson Nick who is a member of the current Wynnum Wolves FC FQPL Under 18 team.