It can be claimed that Jack Beardsworth left for war as a rugby union player and returned as a soccer player. While this is true at a basic level it may not tell the whole story. Beardsworth was born and grew up around Preston, England and emigrated to Australia in his early 20s between 1911 and 1915.
It is unknown whether he grew up playing soccer, rugby or both. Beardsworth was a member of the Border Rugby Union, based around Goondiwindi, and worked at neighbouring Boggabilla as a farmer. Rugby was the only code in the region and was strongly supported. He was one of 17 members farewelled by the Union and 300 well-wishers at the School of Arts Hall in September 1915.
Beardsworth left Australia in May 1916. He arrived in Europe sick and was transferred to hospital in England. He was discharged from hospital in November after suffering influenza, though may have been a separate bout of illness given that he gained the rank of driver in September. Beardsworth finally reached France in March 1917 with the 12th Army Brigade. He returned to England in June suffering from shellshock and a dislocated shoulder, which appears to have occurred when the 12th Brigade took part in the Battle of Messines and its aftermath. Beardsworth never returned to France and then onto Australia in early 1918.
He was reported as having recurrences of his dislocated shoulder in 1920, once while playing soccer, and the other gardening. After the war, Beardsworth joined the Returned Soldiers’ soccer team in Toowoomba in 1919. He soon captained the Toowoomba representative team in a 3-all draw against Brisbane side Ellena. While both sides were weakened due to the Spanish flu, captaincy suggests he was an experienced player.
Returned Soldiers soon renamed themselves to Diggers and began to accept non-veterans. Beardsworth continued to play for the club throughout the 1920s and became club secretary by 1924.
Beardsworth married Jean Burness in 1920, and they had two children, Joan and John jnr. Joan enlisted for the second war for the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force in Townsville. John jnr also enlisted but died in New Guinea in 1944.
Beardsworth passed away in 1963.