Jack Fitzgerald (1925-1965) was an Australian professional

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 and 1950s, and coached in the 1960s. He played for Western Suburbs as a winger and later coached the club from 1961 to 1964.

Playing career

Fitzgerald began his career with Western Suburbs in 1949. In 1952, Fitzgerald was a member of the Western Suburbs side which claimed their fourth and final premiership defeating South Sydney in the grand final, with Fitzgerald scoring a try. Fitzgerald played for three more seasons before retiring as a player.

Coaching career

Fitzgerald began his coaching career in the lower grades at Western Suburbs until taking over as first grade coach in 1961. In his first year as coach, Fitzgerald won the minor premiership with Wests as they made the grand final against the all conquering

St George Saint George (Greek language, Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin language, Latin: Georgius, Arabic language, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christians, Christian who is venerated as a sa ...

side. Wests lost the match 22–0 at the

Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a sports stadium in Sydney, Australia. It is used for Test cricket, Test, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, as well as, Australian rules football and occasionally for rugby league, rugby union and as ...

. Fitzgerald then coached the club as they reached the 1962 and 1963 grand finals against St George losing on both occasions. This would be the last time that Western Suburbs would make a grand final as a stand-alone club. Fitzgerald coached for one last season in 1964 before stepping down. He died in 1965 aged 40.

References

1925 births 1965 deaths Australian rugby league coaches Australian rugby league players Rugby league players from Sydney Rugby league wingers Western Suburbs Magpies coaches Western Suburbs Magpies players {{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-stub