Wodonga Bulldogs tribute to Jake Elkington inside new clubrooms short-lived

An impromptu ceremony unveiling the "Jake Elkington Clubrooms" was held for Bulldogs' supporters last Thursday night in the lead-up to the club's first match of the Ovens and Murray league season.

But some supporters were shocked to discover the sign had been removed on game-day when an official opening was held before the Wodonga-Wangaratta Rovers opening round clash.

The council's sport and recreation manager Jenelle Williamson confirmed the club was asked to remove the sign when it wasn't informed of the honour to Mr Elkington.

"The council did ask the club to remove a sign from the changerooms ahead of Saturday’s official opening which was attended by representatives of the project’s contributing partners, including Sport and Recreation Victoria, who were seeing the redevelopment for the first time," Ms Williamson said.

"The council has since spoken with the club regarding signage across the new facility and confirmed a sign honouring a club member can be placed in the changerooms.

"The council worked closely on the project with the club as the key user and will continue to do so, recognising the club’s desire to honour key personnel and their history."

Mr Elkington has had an involvement with the club stretching back to the late 1940s firstly as a player and then in volunteer roles including interchange steward.

He is also famous within the club for making soup for players on training nights and has been inducted into the Bulldogs' Hall of Fame.

Club secretary Ian Lumby said the council, as the owner of the facility, was well within its rights to ask for the sign to come down.

"The club provided a lot of in-kind support towards the new rooms," Mr Lumby said.

"But the council was a significant funding contributor and they have some protocols around that.

"It is a council-owned asset and they have the right to decree what happens to a fair degree.

"The reason it came down was well within council's rights."