Jim Ditchburn
Encyclopedia
Albert James "Jim" Ditchburn (24 August 1908 – 7 March 1964) was an Australian sportsman who represented Western Australia
in both Australian rules football
and first-class cricket
. He played and coached in the Western Australian National Football League
(WANFL) during the 1930s
Ditchburn, who was born in the Western Australian goldfields
, started his league career in 1929 with Subiaco
. He crossed to South Fremantle
in 1932 and put together 93 games for the club, during which time made the first of his ten interstate football appearances with Western Australia. Used by his state both in the ruck and as a half forward flanker, Ditchburn twice captained Western Australia to wins over South Australia in 1938. By then he was at his third WANFL club, Swan Districts
, who had secured his services as captain-coach prior to the 1937 season. He had played his early football in Midland
and was thus the first local to coach Swan Districts. In the three years he was in charge of the club, Ditchburn twice steered them to finals, with third place finishes in 1937 and 1938. He briefly coached South Fremantle in 1946, after the sudden resignation of Clive Lewington
.
A right-arm medium pace bowler
, Ditchburn played nine first-class matches for the Western Australian cricket team
, all in 1934 and 1935. He took 22 wickets at 30.63, with his best innings and match figures coming in his final appearance, against the Marylebone Cricket Club
at the WACA Ground
. His first innings figures of 4 for 46 consisted entirely of present and future England Test cricketers, James Langridge, Joe Hardstaff
, Jim Parks and Wilf Barber
.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in both Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
and first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
. He played and coached in the Western Australian National Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WANFL) during the 1930s
Ditchburn, who was born in the Western Australian goldfields
Eastern Goldfields
The Eastern Goldfields is a figurative area used in speech to describe a region of Western Australia.-Name:The name is derived in two parts from, Eastern in relation to its location from Perth and Goldfields as the name suggests comes from the mining of Gold in the region...
, started his league career in 1929 with Subiaco
Subiaco Football Club
The Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
. He crossed to South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
in 1932 and put together 93 games for the club, during which time made the first of his ten interstate football appearances with Western Australia. Used by his state both in the ruck and as a half forward flanker, Ditchburn twice captained Western Australia to wins over South Australia in 1938. By then he was at his third WANFL club, Swan Districts
Swan Districts Football Club
The Swan Districts Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club is based at Bassendean Oval, in Bassendean, an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
, who had secured his services as captain-coach prior to the 1937 season. He had played his early football in Midland
Midland, Western Australia
Midland is a suburb in the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan area, as well as the regional centre for the City of Swan local government area that covers the Swan Valley and parts of the Darling Scarp to the east. It is situated at the intersection of Great Eastern Highway and Great Northern...
and was thus the first local to coach Swan Districts. In the three years he was in charge of the club, Ditchburn twice steered them to finals, with third place finishes in 1937 and 1938. He briefly coached South Fremantle in 1946, after the sudden resignation of Clive Lewington
Clive Lewington
Clive Lewington was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached South Fremantle in the WANFL...
.
A right-arm medium pace bowler
Fast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
, Ditchburn played nine first-class matches for the Western Australian cricket team
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
, all in 1934 and 1935. He took 22 wickets at 30.63, with his best innings and match figures coming in his final appearance, against the Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
at the WACA Ground
WACA Ground
The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association....
. His first innings figures of 4 for 46 consisted entirely of present and future England Test cricketers, James Langridge, Joe Hardstaff
Joe Hardstaff junior
Joseph Hardstaff junior was an English cricketer, who played in twenty three Tests for England from 1935 to 1948...
, Jim Parks and Wilf Barber
Wilf Barber
Wilfred Barber, known as Wilf Barber , was a professional first-class cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1926 to 1947. He played two Test matches for England in 1935 against South Africa. An opening batsman with an excellent batting technique, Barber often batted in the...
.