1959-1960 BRHS Girls Soccer Team
BACK ROW (L-R): Dianne Patterson (Manager), Geraldine Mitchell, Frances Lawrence, Bliss FitzRandolph, Vickie Shaw, Donna Pick, Rose Mitchell, Iona Bishop (Coach) FRONT ROW (L-R): Karen Bent, Beth Allan, Sheila Clements, Elaine Mitchell, Joyce Lawrence, Lois MacMillan.
In 1954, six girls in Grade Seven, who had been together since Primary, began their academic pursuits at BRHS. At this time there was nothing in place for these enthusiastic wannabe soccer players … they had to wait another year to indulge in their sport.
The six students were: Rosie Mitchell, Elaine Mitchell and Geraldine Mitchell, all from Inglewood. Joyce Lawrence, Frances Lawrence and Vicki Shaw lived in Clarence.
Of course, over the next five years, these six athletes became an integral part of the sports program at the school.
However, by the time these six athletes reached Grade Twelve, they were joined by Bliss FitzRandolph, Donna Pick, Karen Bent, Beth Allen, Sheila Clements and Lois McMillan. These additional six athletes represented the communities of West Paradise, Beaconsfield, Bridgetown and Centrelea. Dianne Patterson of Carleton Corner was manager.
In the 1950s, the role of a BRHS soccer player was not an easy one. There were no cleats, no shin pads and no missed practices. One had to be resistant to snow, rain, sleet and tolerate lots of mud.
Soccer practice began as soon as school commenced in September and ended in mid-November. No one dared miss practice … not even for Miss Milner’s music class!
The late Jack Walker was the team’s coach from Grade Eight through Grade Eleven. In their Grade Twelve year Iona Barteaux Bishop was their coach. Iona had graduated from BRHS and had played with some of the senior members of the team.
Wednesdays and Fridays were game days. For away games the girls were allowed to leave school early. Transportation was usually supplied by bus. Sometimes taxi driver Lawrence Durling offered his services and more than often, Lloyd Durling loaned his car to Mr. Walker. Oscar Miller, Hilda FitzRandolph and Robert Hall drove as well.
The “A” Girls played in the Western Region of the Province, consisting of Annapolis, Digby and Bridgetown schools. In 1957, the Bridgetown girls were Western Regional winners. The “Evil Kickers,” as they were called, repeated the same feat in 1958.
In 1959, the Evil Kickers won the Congress title by defeating Annapolis. The team then advanced to the Headmasters Regional finals and defeated Cambridge in a two game total point series. Next they played Centre and defeated this South Shore winner in a two game series by scores of 4-nil and 8-2.
The Headmasters finals were played in Windsor at King’s-Edgehill School. Bridgetown faced a strong team from New Glasgow in the Provincial final. A quote from the ’59-’60 yearbook perhaps sums up the atmosphere and result of that game: “Never before had they shown such vigor and team spirit!” The Bridgetown girls, or the “Evil Kickers”, defeated New Glasgow 9-2, winning the Provincial soccer title. This was the pinnacle of their sports career and for the six originals, it was a dream come true.