Bill J. Griffiths

Bill Griffiths
Personal information
Full nameWilliam J. Griffiths
Date of birth5 April 1879
Date of death16 October 1928 (aged 49)
Place of deathMelbourne
Original teamEssendon Town
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
1903
1904-1905
Total -
Fitzroy
South Melbourne
8 (2)
9 (0)
17 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 1905 season.

William J. "Bill" Griffiths (5 April 1879 – 16 October 1928) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Griffiths played his early football at Essendon Town, in the Victorian Football Association.[1]

He appeared eight times for Fitzroy in the 1903 VFL season but wasn't selected in the finals.[2] The following year he took the field with South Melbourne and played eight games in his first season and one more in 1905.[2]

Griffiths was a field umpire for one league game in 1911 and a boundary umpire in 19 games between 1911 and 1913.[3]

After retiring from football, Griffiths kept active as a district cricketer and spent some time with the St Kilda Cricket Club. He was a member of the Elsternwick second eleven when he was killed in 1928, while practicing. A ball had struck him on the head as he was attempting to take a catch and he suffered a skull fracture. He was taken to The Alfred Hospital but died soon after.[4]

References

  1. Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.
  2. 2.0 2.1 AFL Tables: Bill Griffiths
  3. "William Griffiths". AFLUA.
  4. The Argus, "Cricketer And Footballer - Death of W. Griffiths", 18 October 1928. p. 14