Oldest Ticats ticket holder

“For my birthday, what I really want for a present is a Tiger Cat win.”

Bill Walker has been a season ticket holder since 1950, but he’s been a fan since he saw Hamilton win the 1928 Grey Cup.

“I was seven. We beat Regina Rough Riders I think it was 30 to nothing,” he says.

He was there in 1972 when they won here at home, and during the east final in ’98 when the team was down late. Fans started to leave so Bill and his son Paul made a final plea.

“Paul and I were saying, don’t leave, don’t leave we’re gonna be alright and sure enough.”

Seconds later Paul Osbaldoston hit a 53 yard field goal for the win.

Bill is excited by the progress on the new stadium and he’s been to every game up in Guelph, but he’s looking forward to coming back home.

“Ya it’ll be great to get back into the new stadium because we’ll get back to inside plumbing again. We don’t have it up there in Guelph.”

He’s acquired a lot of memorabilia over the years including a letter from then coach Ron Lancaster congratulating him on 50 years as a ticket holder. Now most of his stuff has been passed to his son Paul who grew up at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

“Always looked forward to going to the labour day game, but then never wanted it to end because you had school the next day.”

Next week they will select their seats at the new stadium, being the oldest ticket holder Bill is the first in line. Tthough he supports the Ticats in person, Bill admits that there are actually two CFL teams that he cheers for.

“The first one of course is the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the second one is whoever is playing the Argo’s.”