Eric Cumming
Encyclopedia
Eric Cumming was an Australian rules football
er who played with Footscray
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the late 1940s.
Cumming spent two seasons at Footscray, who were captain-coached by Arthur Olliver
. He played eight games in the 1948 VFL season
, including a Semi Final, which Footscray lost to Collingwood. Cumming appeared in six games the following season and kicked his only two career goals in a match against Fitzroy at Brunswick Street.
A professional sprinter, Cumming became the first and only Australian to win the prestigious New Year Sprint, at Powderhall
Scotland in 1952. With a handicap of two yards, Cumming won the 130 yard race in 12.19 seconds. He also regularly competed in the Stawell Gift
and finished second in 1946, behind Tommy Deane. In recognition of his contribution to professional running, the Stawell Athletic Club awards the most successful sprinter over 70 m, 120 m, and 200 m, at its Easter Gift carnival, the Eric Cumming trophy.
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...
er who played with Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) during the late 1940s.
Cumming spent two seasons at Footscray, who were captain-coached by Arthur Olliver
Arthur Olliver
Arthur Olliver was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League , and coached successfully in the then Western Australian National Football League ....
. He played eight games in the 1948 VFL season
1948 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1948.-Premiership season:In 1947, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
, including a Semi Final, which Footscray lost to Collingwood. Cumming appeared in six games the following season and kicked his only two career goals in a match against Fitzroy at Brunswick Street.
A professional sprinter, Cumming became the first and only Australian to win the prestigious New Year Sprint, at Powderhall
Powderhall
Powderhall is an area in the north of Edinburgh, the Scottish capital. It is mainly centred around Broughton Road. Until recently it was best known for its greyhound racing track, which has now closed. The site has been redeveloped for housing and business purposes...
Scotland in 1952. With a handicap of two yards, Cumming won the 130 yard race in 12.19 seconds. He also regularly competed in the Stawell Gift
Stawell Gift
The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short distance running race. It is run over every Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, Stawell in the Grampian Mountains district of western Victoria.The race is run on grass...
and finished second in 1946, behind Tommy Deane. In recognition of his contribution to professional running, the Stawell Athletic Club awards the most successful sprinter over 70 m, 120 m, and 200 m, at its Easter Gift carnival, the Eric Cumming trophy.