John Wilson Dempsey (1907-1951) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Wilson Dempsey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 May 1907 Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 21 July 1951 (aged 44) Moore Park, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Halfback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career
editRegarded by many as one of the best halfbacks that came from the Newcastle area, Jack 'Inky' Dempsey came to Sydney for one season and played for St. George in 1929. He later captain/coached many country teams including Moree, New South Wales. He represented Newcastle against touring English teams on three occasions 1928, 1932 and 1936. 'Inky' Dempsey retired from playing in 1937 at Kurri Kurri, New South Wales. [2]
Tragic death
editJack 'Inky' Dempsey collapsed and died in a wild brawl on the hill at the Sydney Cricket Ground during a Test Match between Australia v France on 21 July 1951. His lifeless body was carried down from the 'Hill' and placed on a stretcher on the SCG pitch in view of all 67,000 spectators. [3] [4] He left a wife and three children, and was buried at Sandgate Cemetery on 24 July 1951. [5] [6]
References
edit- ^ "Jack Dempsey - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- ^ Encyclopedia Of Rugby League Players by Whiticker/Hudson. 1993 Edition (ISBN 1875169571)
- ^ THE CESSNOCK EAGLE "Obituary 'Inky' Dempsey" https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/99735122?searchTerm=%22john%20dempsey%22&searchLimits=l-state=New+South+Wales%7C%7C%7Cl-decade=195%7C%7C%7Cl-year=1951
- ^ THE SUN (SYDNEY) "Man Dies At Test" 22/7/1951 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230230616?searchTerm=%22john%20dempsey%22&searchLimits=l-state=New+South+Wales%7C%7C%7Cl-decade=195%7C%7C%7Cl-year=1951
- ^ NEWCASTLE HERALD - Funeral Notice: 24 July 1951
- ^ NEWCASTLE MORNING HERALD 24/7/1951 'Funeral today for Mr. J. Dempsey" https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134059229?searchTerm=inky%20dempsey&searchLimits=l-state=New+South+Wales%7C%7C%7Cl-decade=195%7C%7C%7Cl-year=1951
 | This rugby league football biography relating to an Australian born in the 1900s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |