Roy Park (sportsman)

Infobox afl player | firstname = Roy
lastname = Park




birthdate = birth date|1890|4|26|df=y
birthplace = Charlton, Victoria
originalteam =
dead = dead
deathdate = death date|1947|1|23|df=y
deathplace = Middle Park, Victoria
debutdate = Round 4, 1912
debutteam = University
debutopponent =St Kilda
debutstadium = M.C.G.
playingteams = University (1912-14)

44 Games, 111 Goals

Melbourne (1915)

13 Games, 35 Goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 2005
careerhighlights =

*leading goalkicker 1912, 1913, 1914

Roy Lindsay Park (born 30 July 1892, Charlton, Victoria, died 23 January 1947, Middle Park, Victoria) was an all-round athlete and doctor. He played both cricket for Australia and also AFL/VFL football.

Football career

Park started his career as a goal-kicking machine for University when the years were too late for a revival. He made his debut in 1912 and had an immediate impact, winning the leading goalkicker award for the side, but it was the next season where he stood up, kicking 53 goals, and beaten by Fitzroy's Jimmy Freake who in the finals overtook Park as the VFL's Leading Goalkicker, only because University came last, and not to play in the finals. He had studying commitments in 1914, leaving him to play few games, but still managed to kick 36 goals for the season that was University's last in the competition.In 1915 he went to play with Melbourne, where he kicked 35 goals in 13 games, but he was suspended for 3 matches for striking, despite three witnesses coming forward to say that Park had not hit the player at all. Park refused to play football again after his suspension, ending his career with 146 goals in 57 matches.

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = Australian
country = Australia
country abbrev = AUS
name = Roy Park
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Off-spin
tests = 1
test runs = 0
test bat avg = 0.00
test 100s/50s = 0/0
test top score = 0
test balls = 6
test wickets = 0
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = 0/0
FCs = 36
FC runs = 2514
FC bat avg = 39.28
FC 100s/50s = 9/10
FC top score = 228
FC balls = 226
FC wickets = 3
FC bowl avg = 46.33
FC 5s = 0
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = 1/15
FC catches/stumpings = 13/0
debut date = 31 December
debut year = 1920
last date = 31 December
last year = 1920
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/7079.html

Cricket career

Park became a cricketer after his football career, notching up some fine performances as a right-handed batsman for Victoria, and soon earned a Test call-up in the 1920–21 season. He was unsuccessful in his debut against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, making a first-ball duck in his only innings, and bowling a single over of off-spinners which went for 9 runs. He was said to have been called late during the night for medical duties, and not to have got any sleep before his debut. He never played Test cricket again. Unfortunately his wife, who was watching in the stands, missed his entire test batting career. She dropped her knitting as he prepared to face his first ball, bent down to retrieve it and missed the fateful delivery.

At first-class level, he made 2514 runs at an average of just under 40, scoring 9 centuries, with a highest score of 228.

ee also

*List of Australian rules football and cricket players

References

* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/7079.html Cricinfo page on Roy Park]
* [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/296109.html Brydon Coverdale, "Australia's Winter Allrounders: XI Test Cricketers who played Australian Rules football at the highest level", Cricinfo, 28 May 2007]
* [http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/R/Roy_Park.html AFL Statistics: Roy Park]