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The story of Gridball '55

Twelve franchises were offered in 1950 to commence play in 1955

10 from the Unites States, 1 each from France and Sweden

Monmartre {Paris} France - Named the Belles after the character in the novel, Beauty and the Beast

Atlanta - Georgia, USA - Named Firecrackers after the term for a high spirited of free speaking woman of the state

Memphis - Tennessee, USA - Named Fever after the spate of 19th century Yellow Fever outbreaks in the State

Louisville - Kentucky, USA - Named Jockeys in honour of the Kentucky Derby Horse Race

Minneapolis - Minnesota, USA - Named Loons after the State bird

Birmingham - Alabama, USA - Named Americans to distinguish them from the Birmingham team from England. Always known as Alabama.

Des Moisne - Iowa, USA - Named Rapids after the waters of the State

Richmond - Virginia, USA - Named Revolution in honour of the 1776 American Revolution

New Orleans - Louisiana, USA - Named Storm after the many storms that hit the area each year

Oklahoma - USA - Named Orchids after the team's principal colour

Mississippi - USA - Set up in Jackson and named Mockingbirds after the bird

Stockholm - Sweden - Named Vikings after the warriors of the old Norse times

Qualifying Competition

Due to the number of competing teams, each of the twelve new teams histed a three team qualifying group with two of the three teams in each group qualifying for the competition proper. 

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1955 qualifying results.png
First Round

The winners and runners up of each group progressed to round two

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1955 first round results.png
Second Round
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1955 Second Round Results.png
Quarter Finals
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Semi Finals
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SUPERGRID 1955

Liverpool stunned in Glasgow demolition 

A Supergrid where the favourites simply froze on the day and were outclassed by the underdogs. Glasgow played like a team with nothing to lose and got exactly what they deserved for a bold display.

Pre match talk centred around the golden bat as Glasgow's Eileen Logan and Liverpool's teenage shooter, Sally Jellicoe, who each had thirty-five goals. The one who outscored the other would be presented with the Golden Bat. Jellicoe was one of four teenagers on duty, two for each side, as Glasgow fielded goalie, Catherine Fraser and Centre, Grace Urie while the Liverbirds fielded Shane Cordell at Left Guard. 

The Claymores were surprise finalists and no previous Supergrid experience. By contrast, Liverpool goalie, Janet Horsbrough, Sweeper, Emma Kehoe and Attacker, Pauline Dobby were all playing in their third Supergrid for the Liverbirds, having won a broach in 1951. Right Guard, Katherine Molloy was in her second appearance after being in the losing 1952 team and Mila Read was aiming to be the first player to win back to back titles with different teams, having earned a broach with Newcastle last year.  Only the two teens were making their first Supergrid, with Jellicoe having already been named Player of the Year a couple of days earlier. 

A cagey first quarter was limited to just a solitary Lydia Law effort off target but it was in the second quarter where the title was won. Glasgow took the game to them with Law volleying the Scots into the lead before adding a second a few minutes later. When Eileen Logan hit a third immediately before the half time hooter, the game looked all but over, only for the umpires to save Liverpool's lives when judging that Logan had kicked the ball before batting it. 

Liverpool were expected to up the tempo in the third quarter but yet again they were far too cautious in their build up while the Claymores hit fast counter attacks. Magda Miller saw a shot well saved by Horsbrough before the Claymores all but wrapped up the title with a slightly fortunate finish to complete Laws' hat-trick. 

With the game now all but over, Rosemary Dunham saw her effort crack off the frame before Eileen Logan sealed the Golden Bat with a crucial goal for her. A despondent Sally Jellicoe watched on, the player of the year having been completely unable to influence Liverpool to anything on the day.

The final hooter signed off on the most comprehensive Supergrid win to date. It was an afternoon that would come to haunt the Liverpool players who took part as they would all later recall regret at their simply not turning up on the day. 

That was to take nothing away from a Glasgow side who were just quicker and smarter at everything when the big occasion asked. 

Glasgow 4-0 Liverpool
Lydia Law {17, 23, 39}
Eileen Logan {46}
Glasgow Claymores: 1955 World Champions
Netminder: Catherine Fraser - Age 19, Rated 4 {Very Good}

Click link on name for Full profile

Left Guard: Brendagh McDonagh - Age 24, Rated 2 {Okay}
Right Guard: Rosemarie Dunham - Age 30, Rated 0 {Squad Player}
Glasgow Law Logan Uris Fraser 1955 Champs.png

Image: Glasgow Claymores after winning the 1955 title. Lydia Law is held aloft by Grace Urie {left} and Catherine Fraser {right} while Eileen Logan displays the Golden Bat award

From Govanhill, made her debut in 1951. Left the Claymores for Portsmouth in 1958

Glaswegian team veteran who made her debut in 1951 and came back into the side last season after losing her place in 1953. Supergrid '55 was her final game, retiring after the match to take up a role on the coaching staff, before spending a couple of years as Coach of Sculcoates. 

Sweeper: Grace Urie - Age 18, Rated 3 {Good}

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Centre: Magda Miller - Age 20, Rated 3 {Good}

From Clydebank. Made her debut in 1951 and was a first team regular by the time the Clamores won the title in '55. Remained in Glasgow until 1958, moving to rivals, Lanarkshire Miners where she won an Open Cup Silver Medal in her first season, also winning a Nations Cup Bronze with Scotland in the same year. 

Attacker: Lydia Law - Age 23, Rated 4 {Very Good}

From Shawlands, Law made her debut in 1951 and was captain of the team in the title winning season. She led by example, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the final, she went on to win a Bronze medal with Scotland in 1958 and made a record 120th appearance for the Claymores in 1959. 

Shooter: Eileen Logan - Age 22, Rated 7 {Star}

Hillhead girl who emerged as the star of the team. Went into Supergrid tied on goals with Sally Jellicoe but missed out on the  Player of the Year award to her two days earlier. Had the last laugh with a goal to clinch the Golden Bat. Got a double Bronze in 1958 as Glasgow and Scotland both finished third in the Championship and Nations cup. However, Logan broke Glaswegian hearts when she opted to join West Ham in 1958. 

Team of the Season: 1955

Netminder: Catherine Fraser {Glasgow}

Left Guard: Katherine Molloy {Liverpool}

Right Guard: Kathleen Bidmead {Willesden}

Sweeper:  Grace Urie {Glasgow}

Centre: Jean Sloane {Cheshire}

Attacker:  Patricia Cooke {Derbyshire}

Shooter: Sally Jellicoe {Liverpool}

*World Gridballer of the Year: Sally Jellicoe

Runner Up: Jean Sloane 

Third: Eileen Logan {Glasgow}

Young Player of the Year: Grace Urie

Season Stats: 1955

World Champions: Glasgow {1st Title}

Runners Up: Liverpool {3rd Supergrid}

Bronze Medallists: Derbyshire Ewes

Golden Bat: Eileen Logan

Silver Bat: Sally Jellicoe

Bronze Bat: Dorothy Kirton {West Ham}

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