Len Duquemin
Encyclopedia
Len Stanley Duquemin was a professional footballer
most famous for playing for Tottenham Hotspur which he made his debut on March 1946.
Born in Cobo, Guernsey
Duquemin was the first famous footballer to come from the Channel Islands. During the German Occupation of the Channel Islands
during World War II
, it is said that Duquemin hid in a Catholic monastery.
Between 1946 and 1957 he made 307 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur and scored 134 goals. He won the League Championship
in 1951 having won the Second Division
title the year before. Known as 'Reliable Len' for his hard work rather than for being a stylish player. His value was seen in his ability to create space for some of his more renowned team-mates, and he became a key member of Arthur Rowe
's famous 'push and run
' side which transformed the style of football played in the Post War period. He played alongside Alf Ramsey
and Bill Nicholson
Duquemin made his last league appearance for Tottenham in the 1956-57 season
. He played just one match, though it brought him the last of his goals for the club. He subsequently spent four seasons in non-league football
, first with Bedford Town F.C.
, with whom he won a Southern League
Championship medal in the 1958-59 season
, then with Hastings United and Romford
. He left the game in 1962.
After his retirement he ran a newsagents shop close to White Hart Lane in Northumberland Park
and later became the landlord at the Haunch of Venison public house in Cheshunt
, Hertfordshire
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
most famous for playing for Tottenham Hotspur which he made his debut on March 1946.
Born in Cobo, Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
Duquemin was the first famous footballer to come from the Channel Islands. During the German Occupation of the Channel Islands
Occupation of the Channel Islands
The Channel Islands were occupied by Nazi Germany for much of World War II, from 30 June 1940 until the liberation on 9 May 1945. The Channel Islands are two British Crown dependencies and include the bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey as well as the smaller islands of Alderney and Sark...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it is said that Duquemin hid in a Catholic monastery.
Between 1946 and 1957 he made 307 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur and scored 134 goals. He won the League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
in 1951 having won the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
title the year before. Known as 'Reliable Len' for his hard work rather than for being a stylish player. His value was seen in his ability to create space for some of his more renowned team-mates, and he became a key member of Arthur Rowe
Arthur Rowe
Arthur Sydney Rowe was the first manager to lead Tottenham Hotspur football club to the First Division Championship title in 1951...
's famous 'push and run
Push and run
Push-and-run, also known as a one-two, a wall pass or a give-and-go, is a tactic often used in association football. It was devised and developed by Arthur Rowe, who was the manager of English football club Tottenham Hotspur from 1949....
' side which transformed the style of football played in the Post War period. He played alongside Alf Ramsey
Alf Ramsey
Sir Alfred Ernest "Alf" Ramsey was an English footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on 30 July 1966...
and Bill Nicholson
Bill Nicholson (footballer)
William Edward "Bill" Nicholson OBE was an English football player, coach, manager and scout who devoted his life to Tottenham Hotspur in North London.-Early life:...
Duquemin made his last league appearance for Tottenham in the 1956-57 season
1956-57 in English football
The 1956–57 season was the 77th season of competitive football in England.Manchester United won the First Division to become English football champions for the fifth time. Tottenham Hotspur were runners-up. In the Second Division it was Leicester City who finished in top spot, ahead of East...
. He played just one match, though it brought him the last of his goals for the club. He subsequently spent four seasons in non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
, first with Bedford Town F.C.
Bedford Town F.C.
Bedford Town F.C. is an English football club based in the Borough of Bedford. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at The New Eyrie in Cardington, a parish on the outskirts of Bedford....
, with whom he won a Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
Championship medal in the 1958-59 season
1958-59 in English football
The 1958–59 season was the 79th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:August 1958: The Football League season begins with the new national Third and Fourth divisions that have been created from the old Third Division North and Third Division South.September 1958: Manchester...
, then with Hastings United and Romford
Romford F.C.
Romford F.C. is an English football club based in Romford, Greater London. The club are currently members of Division One North of the Isthmian League, and play at Mill Field in Aveley.-History:...
. He left the game in 1962.
After his retirement he ran a newsagents shop close to White Hart Lane in Northumberland Park
Northumberland Park, London
Northumberland Park is a suburb near Tottenham, in Haringey, London, England. It is served by Northumberland Park railway station....
and later became the landlord at the Haunch of Venison public house in Cheshunt
Cheshunt
Cheshunt is a town in Hertfordshire, England with a population of around 52,000 according to the United Kingdom's 2001 Census. It is a dormitory town and part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt served by Cheshunt railway station...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.