Bill Gillespie (rugby league) explained

Bill Gillespie
Fullname:William Charles Gillespie
Birth Date:22 November 1894
Birth Place:Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia
Death Place:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Retired:yes
Club1:Newtown
Year1start:1916
Year1end:19
Appearances1:45
Tries1:10
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:30
Club2:South Sydney
Year2start:1920
Year2end:23
Appearances2:45
Tries2:8
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:24
Teama:New South Wales
Yearastart:1921
Yearaend:22
Appearancesa:2
Triesa:1
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:3
Source:[1]

William Charles Gillespie (22 November 1894 Surry Hills, Sydney – 11 September 1945) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s.

Playing career

Gillespie played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 1920 to 1923.[2] Known as "Tiger", Gillespie was a small man who played most of his career at . In an article written shortly after Gillespie's death in 1945, sportswriter W.F. Corbett (the younger), wrote "Gillespie was called 'Tiger' because of his fierce tackling", noting also that he "was one of the lightest men big football has ever known, for he scaled only about 8st. 9lbs (55 kg)".

Tiger Gillespie captained the 1923 team[3] to the grand final, where the Rabbitohs were runners-up to Easts. He played for NSW against Queensland in 1921, and toured with the NSW side to New Zealand in September 1922.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: William Gillespie - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project. Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. Web site: William Gillespie - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project. www.rugbyleagueproject.org. 2015-12-17.
  3. "Tiger" Gillespie, Souths Clever Skipper, Sunday Sun, 11 August 1923. Article by "Rucker"
  4. Web site: William Gillespie - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project. www.rugbyleagueproject.org. 2015-12-17.
  5. Web site: South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Player Report - William Gillespie. www.ssralmanac.com.