Women's Football

[Archivista]

With the rise in the modern women's game i was wondering if anyone was collecting programmes from the Women's Super League?

Also has anyone come across women's football programmes from its hay day in the early 1920s and war years?

[GreatBarrWolf]

I have a good collection of Women's Programmes from the start of the Women's Premier League in 1991-92 - the forerunner to the current Women's Super League. Also have a copy of England's first International against Scotland in 1972.

I am looking for 3/4 early WFA Cup Final programmes from the 70's/80's if anyone has any spares knocking around.

On the Women's Super League the programmes for the initial season were centrally produced with the execption of Arsenal Ladies. They are now (i think) produced by individual clubs.

[bjm]

Re your query, I have a programme for a match at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough on Whit Saturday 18 May, 1918 for the TWT Munition Girls Cup between Blyth Spartans and Bolckow Vaughans. The programme contains photographs of both teams and, on the front cover, states
"First Girls Cup Final Ever Played".
Back in 1978 George Watson, Secretary of Blyth, borrowed the programme from me so that he could get it professionally photographed to hang in the Blythg clubhouse

[BAZZABAGGIES]

[Fishy]

I like the bottom line on that cover in Bazza's post above!

What was the year Barry?

[sharrowblade]

Fishy wrote:

I like the bottom line on that cover in Bazza's post above! What was the year Barry?

Great programme Bazza, 1939 I believe. The story behind it;

the story of the almost epic encounter between Preston Ladies (Dick Kerr) and Edinburgh City Girls for the 1939 ‘Championship of Great Britain and the World.’ The final was to be played over two legs home and away with the first match on the 17th June at the Gymnasium ground of the old Edinburgh Club St Bernard’s. The Preston side were in for a shock as Edinburgh rushed into a two goal lead with a Kitty Russell strike and a Rena Shanks penalty. Lily Parr pulled one back from a second half penalty but any hopes of a Preston fight back dashed as two goals from Linda Clements and a solo effort from Nancy Thomson left City with a 5-2 win and a three goal cushion for the return leg in Middlesbrough.

So shocked were the Preston side with the result the return match was promptly cancelled and as a result Edinburgh City organised their own final at Carmuirs in Falkirk on July 7th. After a 7-0 win against Glasgow Ladies they declared themselves Champions of the World. Preston however had arranged their own alternative World Championship match against Mademoiselles Belgique who were also claiming to be the World Champions. In yet another strange turn of events Nancy Thomson one of the stars for the City Girls was invited to join the Preston side. Preston’s match with the Belgians was played at Bradford’s Odsal Stadium and in the course of events ran riot scoring six goals without reply with Nancy Thomson contributing three of them. Not only did she play in all the World Championship ties that year but she turned out for different sides and scored in all of the matches. But who was the real winner of the most confusing competition since the Intertoto Cup. Edinburgh City probably have the best claim having won all the 36 matches they played in that year against sides across the UK it would be hard to argue against them even if the final hurdle was a bit convoluted.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharrowblade/sets
A Sheffield United Programme guide

[Fishy]

Brilliant info - thanks!

It shows how keen some were to play even back then. Just imagine the costs and logostics of travelling etc.

[Auchinleckian]

I have an England (Dick Kerr's of Preston) vs France (Ladies of Paris) Ladies International match, at Brough Park, Newcastle, July 15th 1954. Match was sponsored by Gateshead F.C. Supporter's Club and Carlisle Utd Building Fund Appeal.

It's available for exchange for other north eastern non league of a similar vintage, or pre 1970's Scottish non league.

[pnefan]

I was lucky enough to meet some of the remaining Dick Kerr ladies and the England team in the early 90's at a special commemorative event - unfortunately i wasn't too clued up on them at the time otherwise i would have asked a lot more questions .

I was working with one of the artistes booked for the entertainment - they had regular get togethers i believe .
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[sharrowblade]

pnefan wrote:

I was lucky enough to meet some of the remaining Dick Kerr ladies and the England team in the early 90's at a special commemorative event - unfortunately i wasn't too clued up on them at the time otherwise i would have asked a lot more questions .

Many years ago Sheffield Ladies used to play on a sunday afternoon down at our local club after we'd played in the morning. Every other week, we'd childlessly comment about how 'fit' some of the girls were. I know shameful philistines that we were. If the truth were known we never saw them play, there was too much going on in the Club, like Bingo.

Unfortunately, for the girls, each week they had to troop across the lounge to get to the dressing rooms and run the guantlet of whispers and sniggers from behind the 'Sunday Sports'.

I was at the bar one day, when the Sheffield girls came in, followed by their opponents on their way to the changing rooms. A shout went up from the Captain of our football team 'F*****g Hell, have you seen these'. Our right back, feignted, and our left winger spat his pint out. The bar fell silent, the tumbleweed drifted across the room.

These were no ordinary girls, with arms like tree trunks and some of them had beards. To break the ambience a little as I returned to my table I enquired of one of these sporting princesses. 'Doncaster?'

'Nor Luv, Baarrrnsleeey, nah, sup thee ale'.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharrowblade/sets
A Sheffield United Programme guide

[Auchinleckian]

Could they crack walnuts with their biceps, happen?

[Archivista]

Some really interesting stories!

I'd very much be up for a trade but sadly i don't have anything you're looking for unless you want Tranmere Rovers 12/13 programmes? Other wise unless you want money for it i'll have to give it a miss.

It would be great to see an image of the Blyth programme if possible?

Keep posting stories they're all part of the history of women's football!!

[BAZZABAGGIES]

No idea of date..

[pompeypete]

Pompey's team

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