Stafford Potters
Stafford Potters enjoyed just one golden season in the senior sun in 1953 after winning promotion the previous year.
However, their season was a tough one and resulted in them suffering demotion at the end of the campaign, albeit they avoided finishing bottom.
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Arena: Wolverhampton Civic Hall - Capacity {1,500}
Colours: Blue & Gold Stripes.
Coach: Arline MacArthur {Rated 0} - Since 1952
Most Appearances: 16 Paula Walsh, Doris Wylie,
Monique Etevenon, Hazel Hecht {All ever present in 1953}
Honours: None
Most Goals: 5- Hazel Hecht {1953}
In a Season: 5 - Hazel Hecht {1953}
In a Match: 1 - Hazel Hecht vs London 14th March 1953,
vs Essex 18th April 1953, vs Durham 29th August 1953,
at Essex 12th September 1953
& at Lancashire 21st November 1953
1- June Payne at Kent 13th June 1953
& vs Durham 29th August 1953
1- Monique Etevanon at Kent 13th June 1953
& at Birmingham 31st October 1953
1- Kathy Lansbury {Own Goal} vs Durham 29th August 1953
1- Éva Shaw vs Durham 29th August 1953
Record Victory: 4-0 vs Durham 29th August 1953
Record Defeat: 1-6 at Essex 15th September 1953
Oldest player: Hazel Hecht {30 years 179 days at Lancashire 21st November 1953}
Youngest player: June Payne {22 years 42 days vs London 14th March 1953}
Record Attendance: 668 vs Essex {18th April 1953}
Best position: 1953 11th of 12 {Demoted} - This is their only senior season to date
{Correct to January 1st 1954}
Record Scorer - Hazel Hecht
{Baroness Hecht}
Shooter {Rated 1}
Age 30 {26/05/23}
Born: Stafford
Apps: 16
Goals: 5
From a family of nobility, Baroness Hazel Hecht joined the SOE during World War II and was at one time imprisoned in Spain. Joined the Stafford Potters for their only senior season in 1953, becoming their record scorer as their ever present Shooter before retiring from playing at the end of 1953. Is due to take over as coach of Minor team Cheshire in 1954.
Bunny Ruston
{Born Jane White}
Centre {Rated 1}
Age 24 {07/10/29}
Born: Newcastle Under
Lyme
Apps: 14
Goals: 0
Jane White Adopted the nickname Bunny after Lana Turner's 1945 movie character. Became a beauty queen and model in 1948. Took up photography in 1953. Married in 1950 to Factory owner Jimmy Ruston
Youngest - June Payne
{Patricia June Fluck}
Sweeper {Rated 0}
Age 22 {31/01/31}
Born: Finchley
Apps: 14
Goals: 2
Born Patricia June Fluck, married Nicholas Payne, KC in 1952 and rose to wider fame in 1953 as a hostess on The Max Bygraves Show.
Was Stafford's youngest player in their solitary Senior season in 1953 and stayed with the team after their demotion
Most Appearances - Doris Wylie
{Doris Sieber}
Right Guard {Rated 0}
Age 29 {29/02/24}
Born: Hamburg, Germany
Apps: 16
Goals: 0
Born Doris Sieber, she refused to join the League of German Girls at 17 in 1941 and was sent to work on a farm. She married the farmer in 1942 and had two children, born in 1943 and 1945. In post-war Germany, British authorities granted her a dissolution of the marriage in 1947.
She began modelling in 1948, married British actor Philip Wylie in 1952 and moved to England, quitting modelling to join the Stafford Potters part-time. On her 1953 senior debut, she was dubbed Gridball’s most beautiful player and was ever present in their solitary senior season.
Wylie, pictured with her actor husband, Philip Wylie in 1953
Most appearances - Paula Walsh
{Paula Icory}
Netminder {Rated 0}
Age 26 {28/12/26}
Born: Birmingham, England
Apps: 15
Goals: NA
The daughter of a Warwickshire County Cricketer, Paula married journalist Ritchie Walsh before getting into Gridball in 1952, helping the Potters to promotion to the senior game. Was ever present in goal in 1953 but was unable to prevent them being demoted again
September 1953
Barbecue - at midnight too, and on the beach at Peacehaven. Chops, sausages and chips were cooked until the small hours - with red and white wine to wash them down. Among the party are actor Jimmy Hanley, Stafford Gridballer Paula Walsh and reporter Rex North.
Retired Players
Joan Williams {1929-1994} - Left Guard - Apps 15 {1953} - A member of Stafford's only elite season, she retired and married in 1954, having two sons. Moved to Germany and worked for Unicef for over thirty years, being honoured for her work by many countries. Died 21st February 1994.