len duquemin - fact file

1945 - 1957            forward

FULL NAME :  LEONARD DUQUEMIN

Born on 17th July 1924 in Cobo, Guernsey.

Height :

Weight :

 

A self-critical forward, who had fine scoring record for the club, Len Duquemin was a solidly built, but pacy forward when the ball was played in front of him.

Invited to Spurs for a trial in January 1946, Len Duquemin made an immediate impact and was snapped up from Vauxbelet College to become an important part of the Spurs team of the 1950s.

When WWII started, he was a schoolboy in Guernsey under German occupation. Worked as a gardener at the Vimiera monastery where the monks only spoke French, which Len learned and this came in useful on Tottenham's1948 tour of France.

Spotted by Ted Zabelia in Guernsey and he recommended him to Spurs. Joined the club in February 1946 as an amateur and in a match programme, it said the club "believe that he will develop into a centre forward of more than average ability."  Well, that was certainly true, as his robust style and devastating finishing saw him be the first choice centre forward for several seasons.  Not only was Len a well respected player, but always displayed a very sporting attitude.

With no reserve team at the time, Len was sent to Chelmsford City for some first tram experience under the guidance of Arthur Rowe.  Duquemin made his debut in 1947, scoring against Sheffield Wednesday and made steady progress as his Tottenham career continued.  Leading the line well and showing raw power when a sniff of a goal was in the air, Len could show the delicate touch when required to lay the ball off to a team-mate. He liked nothing more than to receive the ball with his back to goal, play it wide to the wings and then charge into the middle to receive the cross.

A regular scorer, Duquemin was on the spot to score the goal that won the First Division title for Spurs in 1951 and a return of 185 goals in 354 matches showed his ability to put the ball in the net.

After finishing his playing days with Bedford (winning the Southern League with them), Hastings United and Romford.  Following the end of his involvement in football, Duquemin took over the Haunch of Venison pub in Cheshunt.

Len Duquemin died in Buckhurst Hill, Essex on 20th April 2003.

 

NICKNAME :  The Duke

Career Record
 
Club Signed Fee Debut Apps Goals
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR February 1946 - 30th August 1947 v Sheffield Wednesday (Division 2) (home)  won 5-1 (scored once) ?? 135
Bedford Town 1959 ?? ??  ?? ??
- ?? ?? ??  ?? ??

Career Record
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
- Other appearances; goals
- -
- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
- Other appearances; goals
 

Honours
England international
- full caps;  - goals
Under-21 caps; goals
- Cup winners medal 19---

 

           

1973

Lived in Tottenham and ran a newsagent, tobacconist and confectionery shop in Northumberland Park at the High Road end.
Watched matches from Block H in the West Stand.

 

 

What they said about Len Duquemin
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What Len Duquemin said about ...
... his time at Tottenham Hotspur ...  21.04.1973 (THFC Programme)

“I was always happy as a Spurs player and was well treated. My most precious moments from those playing years were winning the Second Division championship in 1950 and the League title the following year. I suppose my biggest disappointment was never playing at Wembley. I played in those three Cup semi-finals, all at Villa Park, but we lost after a close struggle each time.”
 

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              Appearances

Season League FA Cup Charity Shield Other
1945-46 - - - -
1946-47 - - - -
1947-48 - - - -
1948-49 - - - -
1949-50 - - - -
1950-51 - - - -
1951-52 - - - -
1952-53 - - - -
1953-54 - - - -
1954-55 - - - -
1955-56 - - - -
1956-57 - - - -

 

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