- Norm Fieldgate
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Norm Fieldgate Date of birth: January 12, 1932 Place of birth: Regina, Saskatchewan Career information CFL status: Non-import Position(s): DE/LB CJFL: Regina Rams Organizations As player: 1954–1967 BC Lions Career highlights and awards CFL All-Star: 1963 Retired #s: 75 (BC Lions) Canadian Football Hall of Fame, 1979 Norm "Mouse" Fieldgate (born January 12, 1932) is a former professional Canadian football player. Fieldgate played defensive end and linebacker with the Canadian Football League BC Lions for his entire 14-year career. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Fieldgate is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the BC Sports Hall of Fame, and the BC Lions Wall of Fame. Fieldgate's #75 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the BC Lions.[1] In 2006, Fieldgate was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.[2]
Fieldgate is widely considered one of the best Canadian outside linebackers to have ever played the game.[3] The Norm Fieldgate Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding defensive player in the CFL Western Division, is named in his honour.
Contents
Amateur football career
Fieldgate did not play college football, but instead played amateur Canadian football for the Regina Rams of the Canadian Junior Football League.
Professional football career
Following his amateur career, Fieldgate was recruited by CFL legend and first head coach of the BC Lions Annis Stukus, to join the BC Lions for their inaugural, 1954 season. Fieldgate played tight end, defensive end, linebacker, and defensive back for the Lions over his 14-year career, but achieved the most success as a linebacker.[3]
Fieldgate was one of only two "original" Lions with the club when the Lions won their first Grey Cup Championship in 1964 (the other was Fieldgate's teammate By Bailey). Fieldgate was also the longest serving original Lion, with a career that spanned 14 years and 223 games.[4] In the 1959, 1960, and 1963 CFL seasons, Fieldgate was named to the CFL Western Division All-Star Team as a linebacker.[3] In the 1963 CFL season, Fieldgate was also named a CFL All-Star.
In the 1962 CFL season, Fieldgate was honoured with a "Norm Fieldgate Night" by the BC Lions, the second player to receive such an honour.[3] The 1965 CFL season saw Fieldgate win the Bobby Bourne Memorial Trophy as the Lions' "Most Popular Player." Fieldgate was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1970, and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1979.[3] In 2003, Fieldgate was voted a member of the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team, at the linebacker position, as part of the club's 50 year anniversary celebration.[5] In November, 2006, Fieldgate was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.[2]
Post-football
Following his retirement from the BC Lions in 1967, Fieldgate started his own company, and worked for the BC Lions as president in the 1980s. He remains active with Lions' alumni and charitable events in the greater Vancouver area.[4]
References
- ^ "BC Lions Retired Numbers". BCLions.com. http://www.bclions.com/index.php?module=page&id=3066. Retrieved 2006-09-05.
- ^ a b "TSN Top 50 Honour Roll". TSN.ca. 2006-11-28. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?fid=10855. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
- ^ a b c d e "Canadian Football Hall of Fame: Norm Fieldgate". Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum. 1979. http://cfhof.ca/index.php?module=page&id=24&player=Fieldgate,%20Norm. Retrieved 2006-09-10.
- ^ a b Corben, Len (2006-08-02). "Rings of Glory". Vancouver Courier. Archived from the original on 2006-10-17. http://web.archive.org/web/20061017180115/http://www.vancourier.com/issues06/081106/news/081106nn1.html. Retrieved 2006-09-10.
- ^ "BC Lions Dream Team". BCLions.com. http://www.bclions.com/index.php?module=page&id=3060. Retrieved 2006-09-10.
Sources
- Lionbackers.com Profile - #75 Norm Fieldgate (Fan Site)
- University of Regina Rams Alumni in the Professional Ranks - Norm Fieldgate
BC Lions Founded in 1954 • Based in Vancouver, British Columbia The Franchise Stadiums Culture The Lions • Leo the Lion • Nickname: The Leos • Quarterbacks • Fight song: "Roar You Lions Roar" composed by Dal Richards and his OrchestraThe Rivalries Lore Vancouver Meraloma Club • Annis Stukus • Willie "The Wisp" Fleming • Defeated Baltimore in the Grey Cup • Beaumont becomes first Lion to win CFL Award • First Grey Cup of New Millennium • Labour Day Classic • Kapp becomes first Lion to win MVP of West Division • Joe Paopao, The Throwin’ Samoan • James "Quick" Parker • Murray PezimImportant Figures David Braley • Wally Buono • Annis Stukus • Bob Ackles • By Bailey • Clem Crowe • Herb Capozzi • Tom Hinton • Tom Brown • Joe Kapp • Dave Skrien• Ken Appleby • Bill Munsey • Lonnie Dennis • Ted Gerela • Dave Easley • Jim Evenson • Jackie Parker • Al Wilson• Cal Murphy • Lui Passaglia • Jerry Tagge • Roy Dewalt • Matt Dunigan • Doug Flutie • Mervyn Fernandez • Don Matthews • Mark Gastineau • Danny McManus • Darren Flutie • Damon Allen • Robert Drummond • Sean Millington • Casey Printers • Dave Dickenson • Geroy SimonRetired Numbers Key Personnel Grey Cup
Championships (5)Western Division
Championships (10)Seasons (54) 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011Current League
AffiliationsLeague: Canadian Football League • Division: WestCategories:- 1932 births
- Living people
- BC Lions players
- Players of Canadian football from Saskatchewan
- Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Canadian football linebackers
- Grey Cup champions
- People from Regina, Saskatchewan
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