[2] Before joining St Kilda, Cheffers played with Melbourne's reserves side, winning a VFL seconds premiership in 1935.
[3][4] During World War II, Cheffers started as a private in the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME) in 1940 for the Australian Sixth Division, in the 2/2nd Field Workshops, RAEME.
He rose to the rank of warrant officer class I in charge of around 18 people who repaired radios for the Australian Ninth Division.
[5][6][7] Percy married Mary Ellen Braines in the 1930s and had four children with her.
Percy received a Diploma in Electrical Engineering from Swinburne Technical College in 1955[8] His son, John Cheffers, became a noted sports academic.