Eric Cumming
| Eric Cumming | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Eric James Cumming | ||
| Date of birth | 23 December 1923 | ||
| Place of birth | Alexandra, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 23 February 1964 (aged 40) | ||
| Place of death | Ballarat, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Acheron Valley | ||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1948–49 | Footscray | 14 (2) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1949. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Eric James Cumming (23 December 1923 – 23 February 1964) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the late 1940s.
Family
[edit]The son of Eric James Cumming (1890–1955),[1] and Eleanor Jane "Ella" Cumming (1894–1986), née McKenzie,[2] Eric James Cumming was born at Alexandra, Victoria on 23 December 1923.
He married Isabelle Woolley (1927–2015) on 19 June 1954.[3]
Military service
[edit]Prior to his sporting exploits, Cumming enlisted in the Second AIF as a 19 year old, serving until the end of World War II.[4]
Football
[edit]Cumming spent two seasons at Footscray, who were captain-coached by Arthur Olliver. He played eight games in the 1948 VFL season, including a Semi Final, which Footscray lost to Collingwood.
He played in six games in 1949, kicking his only career goals (two) in the match against Fitzroy, at the Brunswick Street Oval, on 21 May 1949. He sustained a serious thigh injury in the match against Collingwood, at Victoria Park, on 20 August 1949; he did not play football again.
Professional athletics
[edit]A professional sprinter, Cumming became the first and only Australian to win the prestigious New Year Sprint, at Powderhall Scotland in 1952. With a handicap of two yards, Cumming won the 130 yard race in 12.19 seconds. He also regularly competed in the Stawell Gift and finished second in 1946, behind Tommy Deane.
Death
[edit]He died at Ballarat on 23 February 1964.[5]
Recognition
[edit]In recognition of his contribution to professional running,[6] the Stawell Athletic Club awards the most successful sprinter over 70 m, 120 m, and 200 m, at its Easter Gift carnival, the Eric Cumming trophy.
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ Deaths: Cumming, The Argus, (Tuesday, 15 March 1955), p.13.
- ^ Deaths: Cumming, The Age, (Tuesday, 25 March 1986), p.51.
- ^ Talkabout, The Argus, (Saturday, 19 June 1954), p.13.
- ^ Nominal Roll.
- ^ Deaths: Cumming, The Age, (Tuesday, 25 February 1964), p.14.
- ^ Knox, Ken, "A Cumming to go one place better", The Age, (Monday, 15 April 1974), p.19.
References
[edit]- World War Two Nominal Roll: Private Eric James Cumming (VX133844), Department of Veterans' Affairs.
- World War Two Service Record: Private Eric James Cumming (VX133844), National Archives of Australia.
External links
[edit]- Eric Cumming's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Eric Cumming at AustralianFootball.com
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