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Durham Lasses
The Lasses started out in Minor Gridball in 1951, winning promotion to the big time at the first attempt. 1952 was a sold starting season, finishing 6th of the 8 teams, though never seriously in danger or either reaching the play-offs or being demoted.
The following season was tougher as the Lasses failed to win until matchday four, while just one win in their last nine games included a 0-10 mauling at home from Middlesex. The Lasses ended the season bottom of the table and were demoted having lost all their last five games, giving them an open ended Gridball losing run record.
Arena: Riverside Ice Rink {Durham} - Capacity {1,500}
Colours: Sky & Royal Blue striped shirts, Black shorts.
Coach: Mary Bocca {Rated 0} - {1952-1953}
Demoted in 1953
Honours: None
Most Appearances: 30 - Enid Gleadle,
Eunice Higginbottom, Kathy Lansbury
{1952-1953}
Most Goals: 20 - Enid Gleadle {1952-1953}
In a Season: 14 - Enid Gleadle {1952}
In a Game: 3 - Enid Gleadle 5-5 at Glasgow
1st March 1952 {Senior Debut}
& 4-0 at Essex 9th April 1952 {Also Missed a Penalty}
Oldest player: Enid Gleadle {32 years 86 days at Tamar
21st November 1953}
Youngest player: Joan Howes {23 years 1953}
Record Victory: 4-0 at Essex {19th April 1952}
Record Defeat: 0-10 vs Middlesex {31st October 1953}
Record Attendance: 681 vs West Yorkshire
{5th July 1952}
1st team to lose five consecutive games - 26th September 1953 - Demoted at the end of the season
Season By Season record:
1952: 6th of 8
1953: 12th of 12 - Demoted
Correct up to January 1st 1954
Eunice Higginbottom
{Nee de Boulliard}
Centre {Rated 1}
Age 25 {03/01/28}
Born: Alexandria, Egypt
Apps: 30 [1952-1953}
Goals: 2 {1952-1953}
CLUB RECORD APPEARANCE HOLDER
An Egyptian of Franco Italian heritage, she came to England to marry Footballer Ron Higginbottom in 1946. Described as ambitious, bubbly and sometimes fame hungry, she began work as a cheesecake model after the birth of her son in 1949, which led to her husband filing for divorce in 1951.
Joined the Lasses that year and helped them to promotion, setting an appearance record in their two seasons before demotion in 1953.
Opened a ballet school with dancer Geoff Cheeseman that year and is now engaged to be married in 1954.
Kathy Lansbury
Defender {Rated 0}
Age 28 {15/01/25}
Born: Chester-Le-Street, Durham, England
Apps: 30 {1952-1953}
Goals: -
Played at Right Guard during Durham's two years in the Elite and scored an own goal on her 1952 debut before going on to become the first player to score a second career own goal in 1953. Jointly holds the Durham appearance record, playing thirty games in their 2 seasons in the elite.
Remained with the Lasses when they dropped down to the Minors in 1954. and adapted to become an all round defender
1953 was a tough year for Lansbury. she became the first player to score a second own goal as the lasses finished bottom and were demoted.
Mary Bocca
{Nee Laing}
Coach {Rated 0}
Age 38 {30/05/15}
Born: Durham, England
Described once as the archetypal British beauty, mother is half French who married a Belgian stockbroker who adopted Mary. She discovered he wasn't her father in 1949.
Educated in Durham and Paris. Married a doctor in 1939 but divorced in 1946. Worked in France after the war and met a French photographer. Married in 1949 and returned to her home county where she began coaching the Durham Lasses. After guiding them to 6th place in 1952, Was pregnant for much of the 1953 season and some critics cited it as part of the reason her team finished bottom of 12 and were demoted that season.
EX - Barbara Cole
{Nee Dorn}
Right Guard {Rated 0}
Age 29 {28/04/24}
Born: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Apps: 22 {1952-1953}
Goals: 1 {1953}
Former American actress and pin up who was nearly killed in a car crash in 1946. Came to England in 1948 as the wife of British band leader, Hugo Cole. 5 ft 6 inch defender has a son and a daughter and debuted in March 1952
Quit the Lasses after their 1953 demotion and took a player coach role with Minor League Northampton
Retired Players
Ursula Sugden {Nee McClancey} - Netminder - Apps 22 {1952-1953}
Pat Harrison - Attacker - Apps 19, Goals 6 {1952-1953}
Gracie Bruce {Nee Barnhart} - Netminder - Apps 8 {1952-1953}