Jack Kitching

Jack Kitching was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Bradford Northern, Whitehaven and Castleford, as a centre, and coached at club level for Castleford.

Jack Kitching
Kitching photographed in February 1951 while playing for Castleford
Playing information
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1944–48 Bradford Northern 171 48 2 148
1948 Whitehaven
1949–50 Bradford Northern
1950–52 Castleford 28 11 0 0 33
Total 199 59 2 0 181
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1945–47 England 4 0 0 0 0
1946 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1948 Whitehaven
1951–52 Castleford 41 10 1 30 24
Total 41 10 1 30 24
Source:

Early life

Kitching was born in Bradford.[1] He was educated at Thornton Grammar School, Bradford and Borough Road College, London, where he qualified as a teacher.[1] From 1940–45 he served in the Royal Navy.[1]

Rugby career

Kitching's rugby league career started in 1944 when he signed for Bradford Northern, having previously played for Bradford rugby union club.[2]

Kitching was three times a Challenge Cup winner. He played in the second leg of the 1943–44 Challenge Cup final as Bradford beat Wigan 8–0 (winning 8–3 on aggregate) at Odsal Stadium on 22 April 1944.[3] The second win was when Bradford beat Leeds 8–4 at Wembley Stadium in the 1946–47 Challenge Cup final on 3 May 1947.[4] In between Kitching played in both legs of the 1944–45 Challenge Cup final as Bradford lost 13–9 on aggregate to Huddersfield.[5][6] The third was in 1949 as Bradford beat Halifax 12–0 at Wembley on 7 May.[7]

While at Bradford Kitching won four caps for England between 1945 and 1947, three caps against Wales (1945, 46 and 47) and a single cap against France in 1946.[8] In 1946 he was selected for the Great Britain team to tour Australia and New Zealand, and played in one test against Australia.[9] During the first test of the tour he was sent off for striking Australian captain, Joe Jorgenson. Kitching later accused Jorgensen of biting him prior to his dismissal, an allegation that was not sustained.[10][11]

In June 1948 Kitching accepted an offer to become manager at new club, Whitehaven who were about to start their inaugural season in the league.[12] A transfer fee of £2,500 was agreed between Whitehaven and Bradford enabling Kitching to also play for as well as manage Whitehaven in July 1948;[13] however in December of the same year Kitching resigned as manager citing personal reasons and the inability to find a family home in Whitehaven, and returned as a player to Bradford.[14][15] In October 1950 he was transferred to Castleford for a fee of £1,000.[16] From February 1951 he was captain of the team.[17] Between August 1951 to April 1952, he was coach of the Castleford club.[18]

Teaching career

Away from rugby Kitching taught geography and physical education. At the time of the 1950 General Election he was teaching at Pudsey Grammar School.[1]

Political career

He was the Liberal Party candidate for Bradford North at the 1950 General Election.[1] He finished third and did not stand for parliament again;

General Election 1950: Bradford North[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Johnson Taylor 20,628 45.7 +9.5
Labour Muriel Edith Wallhead-Nichol 18,517 41.0 -2.6
Liberal Jack Kitching 5,985 13.3 -6.8
Majority 2,111 4.7
Turnout 87.7
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +6.0

References
  1. "International footballer to contest North Bradford". Yorkshire Post (31, 939). 11 January 1950. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. "Trinity at Batley". Yorkshire Evening Post (16, 626). 4 February 1944. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "Bradford win the Cup". Liverpool Daily Post (27, 690). 24 April 1944. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Rugby League Cup: Bradford Northern beat Leeds". The Times (50, 752). 5 May 1947. p. 2.
  5. "Huddersfield's well-earned R.L. Cup Final lead". Yorkshire Post (30, 483). 30 April 1945. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Huddersfield's grand win in R.L. Cup". Yorkshire Post (30, 489). 7 May 1945. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Rugby Football: Bradford Northern win League Cup". The Times (51, 376). 9 May 1949. p. 6.
  8. "England International statistics:Jack Kitching". 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. "Great Britain International Statistics: Jack Kitching". 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  10. "Draw in First R.L. Test Match". Yorkshire Evening Post (17, 357). 17 June 1946. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Allegation By Kitching Of Biting Denied". The Sydney Morning Herald (33, 848). 18 June 1946. p. 7 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Kitching accepts Whitehaven offer". Yorkshire Evening Post (17, 982). 22 June 1948. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Kitching will also play". Yorkshire Evening Post (18, 014). 29 July 1948. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "Kitching released by Whitehaven". Yorkshire Evening Post (18, 139). 22 December 1948. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "Kitching's return to Odsal stopped record transfer". Yorkshire Post (31, 617). 28 December 1948. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. "Kitching for Castleford". Hull Daily Mail (20, 262). 31 October 1950. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "Kitching to lead Castleford". Yorkshire Post (32, 290). 28 February 1951. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. "Jack Kitching: Coaching Record". Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  19. Craig, FWS (1983) [1971]. British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 (2nd ed.). p. 93. ISBN 0900178078.
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