Jack Kitching

{{short description|English RL coach and former GB & England international rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Jack Kitching

|fullname =

|image = File:Jack Kitching 1951.jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Kitching photographed in February 1951 while playing for Castleford

|birth_date = {{circa|1920}}

|birth_place = Bradford, West Yorkshire, England

|death_date = {{death date and given age|1993|7|30|73|df=yes}}

|death_place = Bottesford, Lincolnshire, England

|height =

|weight =

|position = {{rlp|CE}}

|club1 = {{nowrap|Bradford Northern}}

|year1start = 1944

|year1end = 48

|appearances1 = 171

|tries1 = 48

|goals1 = 2

|fieldgoals1 =

|points1 = 148

|club2 = Whitehaven

|year2start = 1948

|year2end =

|appearances2 =

|tries2 =

|goals2 =

|fieldgoals2 =

|points2 =

|club3 = Bradford Northern

|year3start = 1949

|year3end = 50

|appearances3 =

|tries3 =

|goals3 =

|fieldgoals3 =

|points3 =

|club4 = Castleford

|year4start = 1950

|year4end = 52

|appearances4 = 28

|tries4 = 11

|goals4 = 0

|fieldgoals4 = 0

|points4 = 33

|teamA = England

|yearAstart = 1945

|yearAend = 47

|appearancesA = 4

|triesA = 0

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 0

|teamB = {{nowrap|Great Britain}}

|yearBstart = 1946

|yearBend =

|appearancesB = 1

|triesB = 0

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 0

|coachteam1 = Whitehaven

|coachyear1start = 1948

|coachyear1end =

|coachgames1 =

|coachwins1 =

|coachdraws1 =

|coachlosses1 =

|coachteam2 = Castleford

|coachyear2start = 1951

|coachyear2end = 52

|coachgames2 = 41

|coachwins2 = 10

|coachdraws2 = 1

|coachlosses2 = 30

|retired = yes

|source = {{cite web |title=Jack Kitching |url=http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=511 |website=Castigers.net |access-date=10 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429133142/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=511 |archive-date=29 April 2012}}{{Rugby league records |id=9020 |title=Jack Kitching |access-date=10 February 2024}}

}}

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 {{rlp|ce}}, and coached at club level for Castleford.

Early life

Kitching was born in Bradford. He was educated at Thornton Grammar School, Bradford and Borough Road College, London, where he qualified as a teacher.{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19500111/166/0006 |title=International footballer to contest North Bradford |newspaper= Yorkshire Post |date=11 January 1950 |page=6 |issue=((31,939)) |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}} From 1940–45 he served in the Royal Navy.

Rugby career

Kitching's rugby league career started in 1944 when he signed for Bradford Northern, having previously played for Bradford rugby union club.{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000273/19440204/040/0003 |title=Trinity at Batley

|newspaper= Yorkshire Evening Post |date=4 February 1944 |issue=((16,626)) |page=3 |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}}

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.{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000650/19440424/105/0004 |title=Bradford win the Cup |newspaper= Liverpool Daily Post |date=24 April 1944 |page=4 |issue=((27,690)) |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}} The second win was when Bradford beat Leeds 8–4 at Wembley Stadium in the 1946–47 Challenge Cup final on 3 May 1947.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/archive/page/1947-05-05/2.html |title=Rugby League Cup: Bradford Northern beat Leeds |newspaper= The Times |date=5 May 1947 |page=2 |issue=((50,752)) |url-access=subscription}} In between Kitching played in both legs of the 1944–45 Challenge Cup final as Bradford lost 13–9 on aggregate to Huddersfield.{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19450430/075/0003 |title=Huddersfield's well-earned R.L. Cup Final lead |newspaper= Yorkshire Post |date=30 April 1945 |page=3 |issue=((30,483)) |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}}{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19450507/157/0005 |title=Huddersfield's grand win in R.L. Cup |newspaper= Yorkshire Post |date=7 May 1945 |page=5 |issue=((30,489)) |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}} The third was in 1949 as Bradford beat Halifax 12–0 at Wembley on 7 May.{{cite news |url=https://login.thetimes.com/?gotoUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetimes.com%2Farchive%2Fpage%2F1949-05-09%2F6.html |title=Rugby Football: Bradford Northern win League Cup |newspaper= The Times |date=9 May 1949 |page=6 |issue=((51,376)) |url-access=subscription}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Kitching&submit=Go&c=England |title=England International statistics:Jack Kitching |date=31 December 2011 |access-date=1 January 2012}} In 1946 he was selected for the Great Britain team to tour Australia and New Zealand, and played in one test against Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Kitching&submit=Go&c=GB|title=Great Britain International Statistics: Jack Kitching |date=31 December 2011 |access-date=1 January 2012}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000273/19460617/116/0008 |title=Draw in First R.L. Test Match |newspaper= Yorkshire Evening Post |date=17 June 1946 |page=8 |issue=((17,357)) |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17987858 |title=Allegation By Kitching Of Biting Denied |newspaper= The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=((33,848)) |date=18 June 1946 |page=7 |via= National Library of Australia}}

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.{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000273/19480622/096/0008 |title=Kitching accepts Whitehaven offer |newspaper= Yorkshire Evening Post |date=22 June 1948 |issue=((17,982)) |page=8 |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}} 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;{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000273/19480729/093/0008 |title=Kitching will also play |newspaper= Yorkshire Evening Post |date=29 July 1948 |issue=((18,014)) |page=8 |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000273/19481222/101/0008 |title=Kitching released by Whitehaven |newspaper= Yorkshire Evening Post |date=22 December 1948 |issue=((18,139)) |page=8 |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}}{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19481228/129/0004 |title=Kitching's return to Odsal stopped record transfer |newspaper= Yorkshire Post |date=28 December 1948 |issue=((31,617)) |page=4 |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}} In October 1950 he was transferred to Castleford for a fee of £1,000.{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19501031/063/0006 |title=Kitching for Castleford |newspaper= Hull Daily Mail |date=31 October 1950 |page=6 |issue=((20,262)) |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}} From February 1951 he was captain of the team.{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19510228/062/0003 |title=Kitching to lead Castleford |newspaper= Yorkshire Post |date=28 February 1951 |issue=((32,290)) |page=3 |url-access=subscription |via= British Newspaper Archive}} Between August 1951 to April 1952, he was coach of the Castleford club.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813211948/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/coachprofile.php?p=coach&id=23 |url=http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/coachprofile.php?p=coach&id=23 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 August 2011 |access-date=23 August 2017 |title=Jack Kitching: Coaching Record}}

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. He later became deputy head teacher at High Ridge School in Scunthorpe.{{cite news |title=Double Sorrow |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001121/19930802/001/0001 |work=Grimsby Evening Telegraph |date=2 August 1993 |page=1 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}

Political career

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

{{Election box begin|

|title= General Election 1950: Bradford North{{cite book |title=British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 |last=Craig |first=FWS |author-link=F. W. S. Craig |page=93 |edition=2nd |year=1983 |publisher=Parliamentary Research Services |orig-year=1971 |isbn=0900178078}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Johnson Taylor

|votes = 20,628

|percentage = 45.7

|change = +9.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Muriel Edith Wallhead-Nichol

|votes = 18,517

|percentage = 41.0

|change = -2.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Jack Kitching

|votes = 5,985

|percentage = 13.3

|change = -6.8

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 2,111

|percentage = 4.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =

|percentage = 87.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Labour Party (UK)

|swing = +6.0

}}

Death

Kitching died of cancer at his home in Bottesford, Lincolnshire on 30 July 1993, aged 73. He was buried at St Giles Church, Scartho along with his two-year old granddaughter Mishka, who had died from cerebral palsy on the same day.{{cite news |title=Family Announcements |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001121/19930802/006/0006 |work=Grimsby Evening Telegraph |date=2 August 1993 |page=6 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |title=Little Mishka (two) buried alongside her grandfather |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001121/19930825/015/0015 |work=Grimsby Evening Telegraph |date=25 August 1993 |page=15 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}