Shadrach James

{{for|the Australian Aboriginal rights activist|Shadrach Livingstone James}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Shadrach James

| image =

| nickname = Shady

| birth_date = {{birth date|1917|11|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Echuca, Victoria

| death_date = {{death date and age|1973|11|20|1917|11|30|df=y}}

| death_place = Mooroopna, Victoria

| originalteam = Mooroopna,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175000578 |title=MOOROOPNA WINS WELL. |newspaper=Shepparton Advertiser |location=Victoria |date=9 May 1938 |accessdate=2 May 2015 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}} Brocklesby

| height = 173 cm | weight = 68 kg

| position =

| guernsey = 2

| years1 = 1940–1941

| club1 = Fitzroy

| games_goals1 = 18 (20)

| careerhighlights =

}}

Shadrach Garfield James (30 November 1917 – 20 November 1973){{cite web|url=http://australianfootball.com/players/player/shadrach+james/6523|title=Shadrach James – Player Bio|publisher=Australian Football|accessdate=13 January 2015}} was an Indigenous Australian Australian rules footballer.

Family

Shadrach Garfield James was born in Echuca on 30 November 1917 as the son of Indigenous Australian activist Shadrach Livingstone James and Maggie James, née Campbell. James was a cousin of Sir Doug Nicholls and this reference states he was born in Wahgunyah, Victoria.{{cite web |title=1940 - No. 9 Fitzroy |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188807702 |publisher=Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic) |access-date=11 September 2021 |pages=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188807702 |date=15 June 1940}}

Playing career

In 1938, James kicked 115 goals for the Mooroopna in the Goulburn Valley Football Association,{{cite web |title=1938 - Mooroopna Man's Record |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225430372 |publisher=The Weekly Times |access-date=4 February 2022 |pages=62 |date=3 September 1938}} including another 13 during the finals for a total of 128, in which he played Mooroopna's 1940 losing grand final side.{{cite web |title=1938 - GRAND FINAL Re-PLAY |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/176271557 |publisher=Shepparton Advertiser (Vic) |access-date=4 February 2022 |pages=6 |date=10 October 1938}}

In 1939, Brockledby kicked 34.24 - 228 against Cookardinia, with "Shady" James kicking 19 goals to eclipse Brocklesby's previous best of 14 goals by Vin Smith.{{cite web |title=1939 - Albury District League |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254978446 |publisher=Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) |access-date=4 February 2022 |pages=4 |date=17 July 1939}} James kicked five goals for Brocklesby in the 1939 Albury & District Football League premiership.{{cite web |title=1939 - Brocklesby win Mackie Pennant |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/255002288 |publisher=Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) |access-date=19 January 2022 |pages=2 |date=18 September 1939}} All up, James kicked 82 goals in the home and away series{{cite web |title=1939 - Albury District League: Brocklesby v Culcairn |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254989865 |publisher=Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) |access-date=5 February 2022 |pages=4 |date=14 August 1939}} plus 16 goals in the finals, for a total of 98 goals in 17 games in 1939.

James commenced training with Fitzroy in 1940 with a number of other players from the Albury & District Football League{{cite web |title=1940 - ALBURY DISTRICT PLAYERS IN MELBOURNE |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/255129775 |publisher=Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) |access-date=4 February 2022 |pages=5 |date=9 April 1940}} and played 18 matches for Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League between 1940{{cite web |title=1940 - MAROONS GAINED STAR WHEN GEELONG |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188805057 |publisher=Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic) |access-date=5 February 2022 |pages=11 |date=15 May 1940}} and 1941. James, a left footer,{{cite web |title=1940 - Flashes from the football fields |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188804907 |publisher=Sporting Globe |access-date=5 February 2022 |pages=6 |date=11 May 1940}} was the fourth Indigenous Australian to play for Fitzroy.{{cite web|url=http://www.maroonandblue.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=28|title=Black, Maroon and Blue|last=Muyt|first=Adam|publisher=Maroon and Blue|accessdate=2009-11-16|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126030941/http://www.maroonandblue.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=28|archivedate=26 January 2010|df=dmy-all}}

In 1943, James' brother, Rupert was signed up to Fitzroy.{{cite web |title=1943 - LEAGUE CLUBS PREPARE FOR 2nd ROUND |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11793406 |publisher=The Argus |access-date=20 February 2022 |pages=9 |date=28 July 1946}}

In 1946, James was club secretary and coach of the All Blacks Football Club in the Central Goulburn Valley Football League and kicked nine goals in their grand final win against Toolamba.{{cite web |title=1946 - All Blacks Premiers: S. James, 9 Goals |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/187172841 |publisher=Shepparton Advertiser (Vic) |access-date=20 February 2022 |pages=2 |date=8 October 1946}}

James went onto play with various club's throughout the Goulburn Valley and North East Victoria and played football well into the late 1940's, as he played in Wangaratta's 1948 losing Ovens & Murray Football League preliminary final side.{{cite web |title=1948 - North Albury beat Wang |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263783128 |publisher=Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) |access-date=7 February 2022 |pages=10 |date=30 August 1948}}

External links

{{AFL Tables|S/Shadrach_James.html}}
[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254997509/ 1939 - Albury & DFL semi final team: Brocklesby FC team photo]
[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254806848/ 1939 - Albury & District Football League Premiers: Brocklesby FC team photo]

References

Category:1917 births

Category:1973 deaths

Category:Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football

Category:Fitzroy Football Club players

Category:Mooroopna Football Club players

Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)

Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen