Claude McFayden 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 1900s and 1910s. He played for Western Suburbs in the

New South Wales Rugby League The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and is a member of the Australian Rugby League Commission. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was ...

(NSWRL) competition. McFayden was a foundation player for Western Suburbs.

Playing career

McFayden made his first grade debut for Western Suburbs against

Glebe Glebe (; also known as church furlong, rectory manor or parson's close(s))McGurk 1970, p. 17 is an area of land within an ecclesiastical parish used to support a parish priest. The land may be owned by the church, or its profits may be reserved ...

in Round 3 1908 at

Wentworth Park Wentworth Park is a park near the suburbs of Glebe and Ultimo in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The park contains several muti-purpose sporting pitches, cricket nets and a number of fitness installations. There is a playground in the s ...

which was during the opening season of the

(NSWRL) competition in Australia. McFayden played in Western Suburbs first ever victory against Newtown in Round 9 1908 at

which ended with a score of 6-5. The win would be Western Suburbs only victory of the season and the club finished second last on the table above last placed

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

who were dissolved at the conclusion of the season. McFayden played with Wests up until the end of 1916 but his time at the club was difficult with the side finishing last in 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1915 and 1916. The club also narrowly avoided coming last in 1914 finishing just above last placed Annandale. At the time of his retirement, McFayden was one of Western Suburbs longest serving players.

Post playing

McFayden would go on to be a selector and a trainer at Western Suburbs. He then became a committeeman at the club and coached the Western Suburbs Presidents Cup team. McFayden died in 1947 which was disclosed in the club's annual report stating “Western Suburbs Football lost one of its greatest stalwarts in Claude McFayden, who passed away suddenly during the season. Claude was member of the District Club since its inception. Firstly as a player, then a trainer and then a committeeman. Also, during his association with the club, he had on various occasions acted as coach to our lower grades”.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McFayden, Claude Year of birth missing 1947 deaths Australian rugby league administrators Australian rugby league players Western Suburbs Magpies players Rugby league centres Rugby league wingers Rugby league players from Sydney