Len Duquemin

Leonard Stanley Duquemin (17 July 1924 – 20 April 2003) was a professional footballer best known as a player for Tottenham Hotspur. Nicknamed The Duke, he made his debut for Spurs in March 1946,[2] and was a key member of Arthur Rowe's successful "push and run" side that won the league title in 1951.[3]

Len Duquemin
Personal information
Full name Leonard Stanley Duquemin
Date of birth (1924-07-17)17 July 1924
Place of birth Cobo, Guernsey
Date of death 20 April 2003(2003-04-20) (aged 78)
Place of death Buckhurst Hill,[1] England
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Vauxbelet
1946 Colchester United 1 (0)
1946–1957 Tottenham Hotspur 274 (114)
1946 → Chelmsford City (loan) 0 (0)
1958–1960 Bedford Town 64 (52)
1960–1961 Hastings United
1961–1962 Romford 8 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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 he played for champions Vauxbelets Old Boys Association, when games were permitted by the German occupiers.[4] He made a single appearance for Colchester United in 1946.

He scored on his Spurs debut in a 5–1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at White Hart Lane in August 1947 in the old Second Division.[5] Over the next ten years he made 307 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur and scored 134 goals.[6] 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 teammates. 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.[7]

Honours

Tottenham Hotspur[8][9]

Bedford Town

References
  1. "Len Duquemin". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  2. Len Duquemin Debut THFC Official website - retrieved 20 March 2008
  3. "Death of The Duke". Tottenham Hotspur. 21 April 2003.
  4. "Occupation football programme shows team of slave labourers". Guerney Press. 8 November 2020.
  5. "Tottenham Football/ Premier League debut scorers".
  6. Len Duquemin stats on THFC site- retrieved 20 March 2008 Archived 15 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Len Duquemin - Obituary - Bnet - retrieved 20 March 2008
  8. "Tier One (Premier League) Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk.
  9. "Tier Two (Championship) Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk.
  10. "Southern League Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk.
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