THERE were mixed emotions as Abingdon Pilgrims Ladies played their last match on Saturday.

The one-team club, founded around 1950, are to disband due to a shortage of players. They had to scratch four league games this season.

They will join forces with Abingdon HC next season.

The club started life as Shamrocks LHC in Oxford.

They took on the Pilgrims name following the death of the founder, Grant ‘Tick’ Pilgrim in 1986 at the age of 101, and relocated to Abingdon in the 1990s.

The founder’s daughter, Mary Nell Pilgrim, attended a farewell party at Abingdon United with other members of the team from the the 1970s and 1980s.

The club finished on a high note, coming from 2-0 to win 4-3 against Oxford Hawks 5th with a hat-trick from Laura Dean and a goal from Freya Nicholls.

Alice Charles spoke on behalf of the club when she said: “It was a day of mixed emotions.

“We were sad that it’s the end of an era, but it was inevitable looking at our playing strength.

“But we’re keen to move on and are looking forward to the future with Abingdon.”