The Sydney Swans have ensured the gift of a long-time and loyal supporter will be remembered forever with a memorial plaque in his honour unveiled.
Despite never previously donating to the Sydney Swans Foundation, Royce Skinner left a significant contribution for the Foundation after passing away at the age of 75 last year.
Skinner made enquiries regarding the club’s bequest program in which supporters can leave money or assets to the club in the event of their death.
Now the contribution of Skinner will never be forgotten with a memorial plaque revealed on the seat he sat in the Bill O’Reilly Stand to watch every game the team played at the SCG.
Sydney Swans Foundation General Manager Tony Morwood said the extraordinary gift was proof of the power of football.
"It's an amazing story which clearly highlights what football means to people, that it is such a huge part of people's lives," Moorwood said.
"While we've got a number of people who have formally documented a bequest, this is the first person who has passed away and we have actually received something.
"It was a significant amount, a significant six-figure amount."
The money will form part of the funding for the QBE Sydney Swans Academy which continues to develop and nurture future talent to move into the AFL system.
Funds from the Foundation also go towards other special projects around the club including improvements in training facilities for the AFL side.
Skinner was unknown to the club but there is little doubt he was a passionate Swans fan.
"He got ill over the last couple of years and passed away and that's about all we've found out," Morwood said.
"He had no direct family that we know of that we could connect with, though in the past few weeks I met a woman in Melbourne who was a friend of Royce's and she gave us a bit more information about him.
"It's through a supporter like Royce Skinner that you realise just how important this organisation was to his life."