MACDONALD Ian 'Wagga' 27th July 2026
29 July 2026
The Club is saddened to hear of the passing on July 27th 2026, of Ian 'Wagga' McDonald .
'Wagga' commenced as a Trainer with Chelsea in 1967 and over the next 20 odd years he completed 400 or so games as a trainer for one Chelsea team or another.
It was never his goal to hang his hat on any great achievement. He was simply there to help out and look after his mates as well as he could. With that in mind, ‘Wagga’ would often appear before the start of the day’s first match and act as trainer for the entire day or, in some cases the whole weekend. When in need, call ‘Wagga’—he would always be willing to help.
‘Wagga’ wore the whites for so long at Chelsea that he became an institution in his own right. He was always there when it mattered.
He was a remarkable man with a wonderful sense of loyalty to his football club and was awarded Life Membership for his service to the club Club.
Vale Ian 'Wagga' McDonald.
EULOGY DELIVERED BY RAY STUART AND WAGGA'S FUNERAL SERVICE
Ian “Wagga” McDonald 1944 - 2026 7th August 2026
Thank you to Jan & Kerri and the family for allowing me to provide this short eulogy
Let me commence by saying;
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Wagga was truly ‘a lovely man’
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When he spoke to you, he would conclude almost every sentence with a hearty baritone laugh, who can forget his hearty laugh,
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A larger-than-life figure,
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And a wonderful servant of the Chelsea football Club of some 25 years.
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It was in late1966 when Wagga, a fibro plasterer, would meet Chelsea footy club stalwarts Bonny & Ron Ward, Allan Smith, Hooker Hornsey, to name a few in the Chelsea Pub after work where he was eventually persuaded (in the Pub) by legendry Club Secretary, Frank Parsons to cross from Edi Asp FC to Chelsea FC.
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At that time Wagga was living with his aunt and uncle and cousin Alex Talay in Swan Walk where we’d meet every Sunday afternoon in a thick-smoke-filled bedroom sitting at a card table playing black-Jack over a bottle or two of Johnny-Walker while a selection of Wagga’s vast music library blared in the background.
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So it was that in 1967 Wagga began his 25-year service as a dedicated trainer and servant to the Chelsea FC.
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In those early years Wagga would begin each Saturday at the early hour of 8am, starting with Fourths, Thirds, Reserves & the Firsts and finish at 6pm …. the Mornington League changed the game format in the late 60’s to the 4ths and Reserves or 3rds and Firsts at alternate grounds - Wagga for a time chose to stick with the 4ths and Ken Knights Reserves.
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After each Saturday Wagga would be back at the ground every Sunday morning from 9am to noon attending injured players, then back at the rub-down table every Tuesday and Thursday nights.
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Now I’ve done a quick calculation of the numbers over 25 years, and they go something like this:
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Training sessions: approx. 1500 !
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Game days, say, two per Saturday: approx. 900 games !
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Finals: approx. 40 Senior games _ plus junior finals !
Premierships 5-off Senior Flags, 67,68, 86,87,90,!
Notwithstanding he was responsible and over saw all medical purchases as head trainer,
And let’s not forget the many winter-night committee meetings he attended for over two decades,
What an Incredible contribution to the Chelsea FC !
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When he finally hung up his worn-out trainers’ boots, he bought two Carlton Membership-tickets and he and his wife,Lill, would go watch his beloved Blues for many years.
At this point, let me also say a few words about his love for the Chelsea Cricket Club,
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In 1977 as Captain of the 5th Grade matting Wagga decided he would go on a recruiting spree, and so he did, by recruiting 12 very cable cricketers, to form his invincible “5th grade-matting team !!
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So good were Wagga’s recruits they went through undefeated and won the Premiership for which Wagga as Captain was forever supremely proud of his champion team and who incidentally, Wagga challenged the Senior eleven to a benefit match during that year and although his 5th matting eleven were beaten, put up a good performance !
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And Kerrie tells me that Wagga has donated his cricket bat of that Premiership year to the Chelsea CC.
So over to you Steve,!
Let me conclude,
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The Wagga I knew was a person who would never engage in gossip, I never heard him say a bad word about anyone,
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he wore his Chelsea FC “Head Trainer” title as a ‘badge of honour’
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So, I finish where I started:
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“Wagga was truly ‘a lovely man’ !
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