27/08/2026
Vale Ian Ralph
It is with genuine, great sadness that we advise of the recent passing of club life member and hall of famer, Ian ‘IJ’ Ralph.
Ian passed away in recent days at Yorketown Hospital following a brief respiratory illness.
Ian, or ‘Ralphy’ is without doubt one of the most significant figures in the history of the Fulham Cricket Club. The modern Fulham Cricket Club would not be in the envious position it is today if not for the great work of Ian and his overall contribution to the club during particularly the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Beyond that, he continued doing work at Lockleys Oval as curator on behalf of the club through until the club ended its official tenure there in the late 1990s.
Ian originally joined Fulham through his friendship with Lockleys Football Club [where Ian is also a life member] identity and then Fulham player, Alan Kemp in 1963-64, making his A grade debut the following season in 1964-65.
To this day, Ian holds the club record for most wickets taken, with over 600 wickets. Ralphy’s medium pacers saw him take 200 wickets at A grade level [in 107 games] and 300 for the B grade.
He was also a key member of the club’s first premiership in ATCA in 1973-74 taking 5/27 in the first innings. Ian continued to play lower grades for the club until he retired from playing in 1990. I should also mention that he was a useful batsman, scoring a B grade century [102 no] in 1983-84.
While he may be our leading ever wicket taker, it is his work off the field that meant so much to Fulham. He filled roles on committee for many years including secretary, treasurer and social secretary, he prepared wickets [match and practice] at Lockleys Oval with his good friend, fellow life member, Neville Bottger and later with his sons, Brett and Glen.
He captained teams, he coached junior teams, he led fundraising efforts to keep the club functioning, he maintained anything around the club that needed fixing. In the early days at Collins Reserve, he ran the bar on behalf of the club. He is the epitome of the ultimate clubman.
Ian was inducted into the club’s hall of fame as one of the eight original inductees in 2022.
Ian was a very popular figure, with many friends at Fulham.
Rest in peace, IJ.
