Gridball
1954
1954
Contents
The story of Gridball '54
As always, twelve new franchises were agreed in 1950 to join senior Gridball in 1950. All twelve franchises were awarded to teams from the United States.
PHILADELPHIA Quakers - Pennsylvania, United States - Taking their name from the Pilgrims who landed in America in the 17th Century
CHICAGO Flames - Illinois, United States - Named for the Chicago fire of 1871
LOS ANGELES Dreamers - California, United States - Named for the dream of an idyllic life in California.
HOUSTON Stars - Texas, United States - Named for the lone star state
CLEVELAND Foresters - Ohio, United States - Named for Cleveland National Forest
DETROIT Motors - Michigan, United States - Named for Detroit's nickname of Motor City
CAMBRIDGE Hearts - Massachusetts, United States - Original reason for the name is unclear.
NEWARK Serpents - New Jersey, United States - Named for their sea serpent colours
ST LOUIS Spirits - Missouri, United States - Named for the Lindburgh plane, Spirit of St Louis
GREENSBORO Marines - North Carolina, United States - Named for the United States Marine Corps
INDIANAPOLIS Racers - Indiana, United States - Named for Indianapolis' links to motor racing and the Indy 500
MILWAUKEE Does - Wisconsin, United States - Named for Wisconsin's State animal, the white tailed deer
First Round
This was the final time the new franchise teams were allowed to compete directly in the Championship without having to qualify first. Teams played in groups of six with the top two qualifying for round two.
Second Round
Houston became the first team from outside the British/Irish Isles to progress beyond the First Round
Quarter Finals
Semi Finals
SUPERGRID 1954
CHESHIRE Vs NEWCASTLE
Newcastle 2-0 Cheshire
Joan Lenore - 24
Joyce Robertson - 40
NEWCASTLE TEAM:
Netminder: Ann Lord - Aged 18, Rated 2
Made 16 appearances in the title winning team. Moved to Plymouth in 1959
Left Guard: Constance Kidd - Aged 18, Rated 4
Ever present 19 appearances. Voted Young Player of the Year, Joined Liverpool in 1957 and won the Nations
cup with England, Played in Supergrid '58
Right Guard: Nancy Wadsworth - Aged 17, Rated 3
Made only 3 appearances during the season and only another 8 over the next four
years. Married in 1955, playing under her married name, Nancy Straussler since
then. Joy Dyer was the regular Right Guard but missed the final through injury
Sweeper: Elizabeth McKenzie - Aged 32, Rated 0
A reserve whose only appearance this season came in the Final after injury ruled
Aileen Navratil out. This would be McKenzie's 18th and last ever Gridball appearance.
She joined a junior team in 1955 and continues to play and coach in Newcastle.
Centre: Mila Read - Aged 19, Rated 5
The teenage Londoner joined from Lancashire at the start of the season and was hailed as one of the key stars of their title success. That attracted the attention of Liverpool, who recruited her for the 1955 campaign. Despite being regarded as a success by Liverbirds fans as they reached Supergrid, Read struggled to settle on Merseyside and returned to the North East the following year. She's experienced both sides of the coin with the Reivers, being part of the side that failed to secure elite status in 1957.
Attacker: Joan Lenore - Aged 26, Rated 4
Scored eleven goals on the road to Supergrid '54 and then crucially put the Reivers in front in the big one to give her legendary status on Tyneside. She followed Constance Kidd to Liverpool in 1957, playing in her second Supergrid the following year but had to settle for a runners up medal. She was also named runner up in the player of the year awards, while her goals earned her a bronze bat. Lenore retired at the end of that season.
Shooter: Joyce Robertson - Aged 26, Rated 4
Won the Golden Bat on the way to the title. It was to sadly prove the last game for the shooter, who made certain of the trophy with the killer second goal. Just two months later she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and was forced into retirement.
Team of the Season: 1954
Netminder: Gillian Preece {Cheshire}
Left Guard: Marion Mitchell {Liverpool}
Right Guard: Sabrina Kaye {Cheshire}
Sweeper: Gabrielle Hamilton {Willesden}
Centre: Susannah O'Casey {Plymouth}
Attacker: Pauline Yates {Liverpool}
Shooter: Joyce Robertson {Newcastle}
*World Gridballer of the Year: Gillian Preece {Cheshire}
Runner up: Marion Mitchell {Liverpool}
Third: Joyce Robertson {Newcastle}
Young Player of the Year: Pam Allen {Dublin}
Sabrina Kaye {right} with Cheshire team mates, Jean Sloane {left} and Rosemary Vaughan {centre}
Season Stats:
World Champions: Newcastle {1st Title}
Runners Up: Cheshire {2nd Supergrid}
Bronze Medalists: Sheffield
Golden Bat: Joyce Robertson {Newcastle 29}
Silver Bat: Mary Gilbert {Plymouth 18}
Bronze Bat: Susan Sutton {Cheshire 17}
Suzy Harrison {Derbyshire 17}
Pauline Yates {Liverpool 17}