Jim A. Matthews
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" Matthews was an Australian rules football
er who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). He was also a tennis player and competed in the 1947 Australian Championships
.
Matthews grew up in the New South Wales town of Culcairn
but moved to Albury in 1935 to work as a sporting goods salesman.
In 1942 he played six VFL games with St Kilda, all in successive rounds.
He joined the Army
in 1943 and served with the 22nd Australian Field Regiment of the Royal Australian Artillery.
Back at Albury after the war, Matthews was making a name for himself on the local tennis scene and entered the Australian Championships
in 1947. He made the second round of the Men's Singles, beating William Edwards. He was then eliminated 6–1, 10–8, 6–2, by Adrian Quist
. He also competed in the doubles, with Max Bonner, but they were knocked out in the first round by third seeds Tom Brown
and Bill Sidwell
.
One of his best achievements in tennis was winning the Men's Country Championship Singles event on three occasions, in 1950, 1953 and 1954. He also had the distinction of touring New Zealand with a NSW representative team.
As a footballer post-war, he was also a New South Wales representative. He is regarded as having been his state's best performer at the 1947 Hobart Carnival
, where he played as a centreman. At club level he turned out for Albury
, in the Ovens & Murray Football League
. He captained-coach Albury to a grand final in 1953 but they lost to Benalla
. Often seen at centre half-forward
, he was the league's leading goal-kicker in 1953 and won four Albury "Best and Fairest" awards, a club record.
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 St Kilda 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). He was also a tennis player and competed in the 1947 Australian Championships
1947 Australian Championships (tennis)
List of Champions of the 1947 Australian Championships :-Men's Singles: Dinny Pails defeated John Bromwich 4-6 6-4 3-6 7-5 8-6-Women's Singles: Nancye Wynne Bolton defeated Nell Hall Hopman 6-3, 6-2...
.
Matthews grew up in the New South Wales town of Culcairn
Culcairn, New South Wales
Culcairn is a town in the south east Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Culcairn is located in the Greater Hume Shire Council Local government area on the Olympic Highway between Albury and Wagga Wagga...
but moved to Albury in 1935 to work as a sporting goods salesman.
In 1942 he played six VFL games with St Kilda, all in successive rounds.
He joined the Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in 1943 and served with the 22nd Australian Field Regiment of the Royal Australian Artillery.
Back at Albury after the war, Matthews was making a name for himself on the local tennis scene and entered the Australian Championships
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
in 1947. He made the second round of the Men's Singles, beating William Edwards. He was then eliminated 6–1, 10–8, 6–2, by Adrian Quist
Adrian Quist
Adrian Karl Quist was an Australian male tennis player.-Biography:Adrian Quist was born in Medindie, South Australia. The tennis legend grew up in Adelaide and once played Harry Hopman, however he lost, only because he gave Hopman a head start...
. He also competed in the doubles, with Max Bonner, but they were knocked out in the first round by third seeds Tom Brown
Tom Brown
Tom Brown may refer to:In sports:*Tom Brown , 19th-century baseball player and manager*Tom Brown , former NFL player and MLB outfielder/first baseman...
and Bill Sidwell
Bill Sidwell
Bill Sidwell was an Australian tennis player.Sidwell reached four Grand Slam doubles finals, winning once, and also played in the Davis Cup in 1948 and 1949. He is currently Treasurer of the AVGA and is playing golf regularly in place of tennis.-Grand Slam finals:-External links:* *...
.
One of his best achievements in tennis was winning the Men's Country Championship Singles event on three occasions, in 1950, 1953 and 1954. He also had the distinction of touring New Zealand with a NSW representative team.
As a footballer post-war, he was also a New South Wales representative. He is regarded as having been his state's best performer at the 1947 Hobart Carnival
1947 Hobart Carnival
The 1947 Hobart Carnival was the tenth edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition.North Hobart Oval hosted the matches during the carnival, most of them under heavy rain...
, where he played as a centreman. At club level he turned out for Albury
Albury Football Club
The Albury Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Ovens & Murray Football League.The club is based in Albury, New South Wales.Two Brownlow Medallists, Haydn Bunton senior and Denis Ryan, both started their career at Albury....
, in the Ovens & Murray Football League
Ovens & Murray Football League
The Ovens and Murray Football League, often referred to locally as the O&M, is a semi-professional Australian rules football league based around ten clubs in north-eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina region of New South Wales, and affiliated with the Victorian Country Football League...
. He captained-coach Albury to a grand final in 1953 but they lost to Benalla
Benalla Football Club
The Benalla Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Goulburn Valley Football League.The club is based in Benalla, Victoria....
. Often seen at centre half-forward
Centre half-forward
In Australian rules football, the centre half-forward is a position on the half-forward line of a football field. The directly opposing player is a Centre-Half-Back....
, he was the league's leading goal-kicker in 1953 and won four Albury "Best and Fairest" awards, a club record.