James Dechan

James Dechan

Personal information
Full name	James Dechan
Born	unknown
Died	unknown
Playing information
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1903–≥06 Bradford F.C. 1908/09–09/10 Hull F.C. Total 0 0 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1905 Other Nationalities 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1] [2]

James "Jim" Dechan (birth unknown - death unknown) was a professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s. He played at representative level for Other Nationalities, and at club level for Bradford F.C. (now Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.) and Hull F.C., ^[3] as a wing or centre. ^[1]

Playing career

Club career

Initially a rugby union player with Hawick RFC, Dechan converted to rugby league in 1903, joining Bradford FC. ^[4]

Dechan played on the wing in Bradford FC's 5-0 victory over Salford in the Championship tiebreaker during the 1903–04 season at Thrum Hall, Hanson Lane, Halifax on Thursday 28 April 1904, in front of a crowd of 12,000. ^{[5] [6]}

Dechan played at centre in Bradford F.C.'s 5-0 victory over Salford in the 1906 Challenge Cup Final during the 1905–06 season at Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday 28 April 1906, in front of a crowd of 15,834. ^[7]

Dechan was the league's top try-scorer in the 1904–05 season with 31-tries. Jim Dechan holds Bradford F.C.'s "Most Tries In A Game" record with 7-tries against Bramley on Saturday 13 October 1906 (Note: This record is sometimes quoted as being a Bradford Northern/Bradford Bulls record, but this club was formed in 1907 after this record was set, and after Bradford F.C. became an association football (soccer) club.) ^[8]

International honours

Dechan won a cap for Other Nationalities while at Bradford F.C. in 1905 against England.

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
2. "Player Summary: James Dechan". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
3. "Heritage Numbers - Hull FC". hullfc.com. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
4. "New Players For Bradford" . Hull Daily Mail. 13 January 1903. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 9 – 1903–04". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
6. "1903/04 Northern Union Champions". rlhp.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
7. "1906 Challenge Cup winning team". rlhp.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
8. "Should Dechan's record be recognised?" . Telegraph and Argus. 21 November 1992. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• [http://www.rlhp.co.uk/imagedetail.asp?id=1432 Image "1903/04 Northern Union Champions - Bradford were Northern Union champions for the first time in the season 1903/04. They beat Salford 5-0 in a play off at Thrum Hall, Halifax. - Date: 28/04/1904 - Players: Back row: Robson (trainer), Sinton, Heseltine, Sharratt. Middle row: Hutt, Barker, Greenwood, Smales, Feather, Mosby, Eagers. Front row: Dunbavin, Gunn, Rees, Marsden, Turner, Laidlaw, Dechan. On ground: Surman, Brear" at rlhp.co.uk]
• [http://www.rlhp.co.uk/imagedetail.asp?id=1433 Image "1906 Challenge Cup winning team - Bradford beat Salford to win the Challenge Cup in 1906 at Headingley. - Date: 28/04/1906 - Players: Back row: Hoyle (Secretary), Greenwood, Connell, Feather, Smales, Francis, Grayson, Walton, Mosby, Surman, Rees, Farrell (Trainer). Middle row: Gunn, Sharratt, Dechan, Marsden, Turner, Laidlaw, Mann. Front row: Dunbavin, Heseltine, Brear." at rlhp.co.uk]
• Search for "James Dechan" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
• Search for "Jim Dechan" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk