Billy James (Australian footballer)

William James
Personal information
Full name William Roy James
Date of birth 10 May 1900
Place of birth Fryerstown, Victoria
Date of death 27 December 1966(1966-12-27) (aged 66)
Place of death South Melbourne, Victoria
Original team(s) Kyabram
Debut Grand Final, 2 October 1920, Richmond vs. Collingwood, at MCG
Height 165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight 60 kg (132 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1920 Richmond 1 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1920.
Career highlights
  • Richmond Premiership Player 1920
  • Kyabram Premiership Player 1919, 1921 & 1922.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

William Roy James (10 May 1900 – 27 December 1966[1]) was an Australian rules footballer who played one game with the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League—the 1920 VFL Grand Final.

James came from Kyabram and was the eldest of seven brothers[2] and after playing in their 1919[3] Goulburn Valley Football League premiership team and then after "starring" in Kyabram's losing 1920 first semi final match,[4] James played his only VFL game in Richmond's 1920 VFL grand final premiership side.[5] He helped Richmond earn the Tigers their inaugural VFL premiership, with his only goal late in the last quarter sealing the victory.[6]

James was retrospectively awarded a Richmond FC life membership for his contribution in 2017.[7]

According to legend, James was accidentally shot in the foot whilst out hunting prior to the commencement of the 1921 season, an injury which supposedly ended his football career.[8] However, he actually returned to Kyabram where he had farming responsibilities, and played with Kyabram for several more years, including their 1921[9] and 1922[10] Goulburn Valley Football League premiership teams, before the hunting injury, which actually occurred in January, 1925.[11]

James was elected as the secretary of the Kyabram Football Club in 1926, a position he held until 1928, after the shooting injury ended his playing career.[12]

References

  1. ^ "William James - Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  2. ^ "1937 - Footballing Brothers". Trove. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954). 11 September 1937. p. 72. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  3. ^ "1919 - Kyabram win the premiership". Kyabram Free Press and Rodney and Deakin Shire Advocate (Vic. : 1894 - 1955). 26 September 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  4. ^ "1920 - THE FIRST SEMI-FINAL: SHEPPART0N (10.9) BEAT KYABRAM (10.5)". Kyabram Free Press and Rodney and Deakin Shire Advocate (Vic. : 1894 - 1955). 17 September 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  5. ^ "1920 - Premiers at Last!". Richmond Guardian (Vic. : 1884 - 1885; 1894 - 1897; 1900 - 1930). 9 October 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  6. ^ "League Final". The Herald. No. 13, 903. Victoria, Australia. 2 October 1920. p. 3 (SPORTING EDITION). Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Richmond FC - Life Memers". Richmond FC. 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  8. ^ Collins, Ben (11 February 2018). "Legendary Grand Final story shot down as myth". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  9. ^ "1921 - Kyabram Premiers". Kyabram Free Press and Rodney and Deakin Shire Advocate (Vic. : 1894 - 1955). 16 September 1921. p. 3. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  10. ^ "1922 - Kyabram Premiers". Kyabram Free Press and Rodney and Deakin Shire Advocate (Vic. : 1894 - 1955). 15 September 1922. p. 3. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  11. ^ "1925 - A gun accident: Mr. W James injured". Kyabram Free Press and Rodney and Deakin Shire Advocate (Vic. : 1894 - 1955). 16 January 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  12. ^ "1926 - Annual Meeting: Mr W. James Secretary". Kyabram Free Press and Rodney and Deakin Shire Advocate (Vic. : 1894 - 1955). 1 April 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  • Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996


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