William Arthur McRitchie (1917–1990) was an Australian

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer who played in the 1940s.

Career

Bill McRitchie was a

St. George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

prop forward who played four seasons with the club between 1942–1945. He was introduced to rugby league by the then Saints captain/coach Neville Smith in 1940. A Brighton-Le-Sands junior, McRitchie and his younger brother

Doug McRitchie Douglas Allan McRitchie (1923–1998) was an Australian rugby league player who played in the 1940s and 1950s. A New South Wales state and Australia national representative centre, he played his club football in Sydney for the St. George club ...

, both debuted for St George in 1942 although, Doug was a tall winger and Bill was a massive prop. The brothers won the A Grade premiership with Brighton club in 1941 and they were both graded in 1942. They both played together in the 1942 Grand Final. Bill McRitchie's career was cut short in 1945 after his ear lobe was torn off in a scrum during a match against Newtown on 28 July 1945 at

Henson Park Henson Park is a multi purpose sports ground in Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia. History It was established in 1933 on the site of Daley's brick pit, Thomas Daley operated the Standsure Brick Company from 1886 to 1914. The brickworks ...

. After spending the next 22 weeks in hospital, Bill McRitchie was forced to retire from rugby league for good. Bill McRitchie was also a first grade cricketer in the St. George district for over 20 years. His son,

Alan Alan may refer to: People *Alan (surname), an English and Turkish surname * Alan (given name), an English given name **List of people with given name Alan ''Following are people commonly referred to solely by "Alan" or by a homonymous name.'' *A ...

, also played with St. George in the 1960s.

Death

McRitchie died on 25 March 1990, aged 73. He was cremated at Woronora Cemetery 3 days later.Sydney Morning Herald: Death Notice 27/3/1990

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McRitchie, Bill 1917 births 1990 deaths St. George Dragons players Australian rugby league players Rugby league props Rugby league players from Sydney