Bristol
Fighters
The Official Gridball Site
The Bristol Story
Gloucester, Somerset and Worcester were all formed as three individual teams in 1948 but none were able to make much of an impression in the amateur era, resulting in the trio merging to form the Bristol Fighters in 1950. In the process they created arguably the most garish kit in the competition as Gloucester's yellow, Somerset's green and Worcester's brown colours were also merged. The Fighters name came from the plane of the same name.
The Fighters made their elite debut in 1952 but their first-round elimination set the benchmark for their experiences and by 1959 they became founder members of the Second Division. However, they immediately rebounded back into the Elite but also to their best ever season, reaching the semi finals of both Supergrid and the cup, earning Bronze medals in both.
Bristol Fighters
Bronze Medallists 1960
Formed 1948
Colours: Ocean Green, Brown and Orange
Feeder Teams: Bath Romans, Worcester Faithful, Gloucester Tigers, Cheltenham Robins, Weston Mares
First Round: 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958
Record Appearances:
Paddi Feldman 100 {1952-1961}
Record Scorer:
Joan Bellamy 62 {1953-1961}
Record Victory
10-1 vs Milan {Cup Tie 5th March 1960}
Versus Elite team 6-0 vs Cardiff & St Louis {1955}
Record Defeat
0-6 vs Cork {1953}
Most Goals in a Game
{6} Paddi Feldman 10-1 vs Milan {1960}
Most Goals in a Season
{26} Joan Bellamy {1960}
Season History
1952 First Round
1953 First Round
1954 First Round
1955 First Round
1956 First Round
1957 First Round
1958 First Round
1959 Second Division Promoted
1960 Bronze Medallists, Cup Bronze Medalists
Bristol Team
tied 0-0 at Glasgow
6th May 1961
Players of the Year
None
Young Players of the Year
None
Team of the Season
None
Golden Bat
None
Silver Bat
None
Bronze Bat
None
Nations Cup Champions
None
Silver Medallists: Florence Murray & Anita Tuckey {Northern Ireland 1960}
Internationals while at Bristol
Florence Murray {Northern Ireland 1960-61}
Josee Pundel {Luxembourg 1961}
Anita Tuckey {Northern Ireland 1960-61}
Julie Stamp
Coach:
Age 43:
Born: Stepney, England
Rated {3} Good
Joined Bristol: From Belfast {1960}
Honours: Supergrid Bronze {1960} Open Cup Bronze {1960}
1961 Team Rating: Very Good
1961 WORLD RANKING: 9
Highest {9} 1961
Katy Evans
Netminder:
Age 21:
Born: Cardiff, Wales
Rated {4} Very Good
Joined Bristol: From Lancashire {1961}
Appearances: 7 {Elite Career 41} {Total Career 51}
Honours: None
Anita Tuckey
Left Guard
Age 24:
Born: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Rated {6} World Class
Joined Bristol: From Belfast {1960}
Appearances: 33 {Career 126}
Goals: 2 {Career 8}
Honours: Nations Cup Silver {Northern Ireland 1960}
Supergrid Bronze {1960}
Open Cup Bronze {1960}
Sylvia Peoples
Right Guard
Age 21:
Born: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Rated {6} World Class
Joined Bristol: From North Carolina {1960}
Appearances: 8 {Total Career 35}
Goals: 1
Honours: None
Ruth Dicker
Sweeper
Age 22:
Born: Bath
Rated {4} Very Good
Joined Bristol: From School {1954}
Appearances: 64
Goals: 22
Honours: Supergrid Bronze {1960}
Open Cup Bronze {1960}
Paddi Feldman
Substitute Sweeper/Centre
Age 26:
Born: Worcester
Rated {4} Very Good
Joined Bristol: From Amateur {1952}
Appearances: 100 {Club Record}
Goals: 20 {including 6 in one match - Club Record}
Honours: Supergrid Bronze {1960}
Open Cup Bronze {1960}
Florence Murray
Centre
Age 25:
Born: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Rated {5} Excellent
Joined Bristol: From Belfast {1960}
Appearances: 33 {Career 162}
Goals: 10 {Career 20}
Honours: Nations Cup Silver {Northern Ireland 1960}
Supergrid Bronze {1960}
Open Cup Bronze {1960}
Julia Johns
Attacker
Age 26:
Born: Bristol
Rated {5} Excellent
Joined Bristol: From Amateur {1953}
Appearances: 88
Goals: 38
Honours: Supergrid Bronze {1960}
Open Cup Bronze {1960}
Joan Bellamy
Shooter
Age 24:
Born: Bristol
Rated {4} Very Good
Joined Bristol: From Amateur {1953}
Appearances: 73
Goals: 62
Honours: Supergrid Bronze {1960}
Open Cup Bronze {1960}
Josee Pundel
Substitute Shooter
Age 22:
Born: Luxembourg
Rated {4} Very Good
Joined Bristol: From Wuppertal {1961}
Appearances: 3 {Elite Career 6} {Total 20}
Goals: 1 {Elite Career 10} {Total 21}
Honours: Luxembourg International
Inga Carroll
Unavailable Shooter {Maternity}
Age 20:
Born: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Rated {5} Excellent
Joined Bristol: From Portsmouth {1961}
Appearances: 0 {Career 38}
Goals: 0 {Career 44}
Honours: None