Dick, Kerr's Ladies
Encyclopedia
Dick, Kerr's Ladies F.C. were one of the most famous early (pre-1970's) women's association football teams. The team was founded in Preston, Lancashire, England
as a works' team for a company, Dick, Kerr & Co.
, owned by two Scot
s: W.B. Dick and John Kerr. The women joined the company in 1914 to help produce ammunition for the First World War
.
The team drew strong crowds, playing in charity fixtures against similar teams around the country and they raised money for many injured servicemen during and after the war. It also helped promote women's football around the country. The women were paid 10 shillings a game by Dick, Kerr & Co.
to cover their expenses.
The team started to play on 25 December 1917 when 10 000 spectators came to watch a game at Deepdale
.
and were led by the great patron of Women's sport in France, Alice Milliat
(1884-1957). There were a total of 4 games played in the UK, the first at Deepdale
, where the Dick, Kerr's Ladies won 2-0, the second match at Stockport was won by the Dick, Kerr's Laides 5-2; the third game in Manchester drew 1-1 and the final was won by the French at Stamford Bridge
in London with a score of 2-1.
After the UK tour by the French, the Dick, Kerr Ladies went on to tour in France
where they played in Paris
, Roubaix
, Havre
and finally Rouen
, drawing on three and winning the final game.
The French tour generated tremendous publicity for the team and on Boxing Day
of 1920 they managed to draw a crowd of 53,000 spectators to watch a match at Goodison Park
, Liverpool
in a game against St. Helen's Ladies. The team were featured regularly in the Pathe newsreels of the day and players like Lily Parr
and Alice Woods became an appealing draw at British football grounds.
to ban women's football at its members grounds on 5 December 1921. Ostensibly this was due of concerns that women were not physically able to play football, but there was a belief that the popularity of the team made some in the men's game feel threatened.
Once in the USA, they discovered they were due to be playing against men's teams, some of which included immigrants who had previously played in the British football league, plus at least one American who would go on to represent the US at the 1930 World Cup finals. Dick, Kerr's Ladies acquitted themselves well, winning three games, drawing three, and losing three. They proved tough opponents.
"I played against them in 1922," recalled Paterson goalkeeper Peter Renzulli
. "We were national champions and we had a hell of a job beating them."
The teams' name changed to Preston Ladies F.C. in the latter part of the 1920s and carried on playing until 1965.
The FA finally recognised women's football in July 1971, 50 years after they had banned the game.
A Preston North End W.F.C.
exists today (and is playing in the Women's Northern Championship
), but is unrelated to this team.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as a works' team for a company, Dick, Kerr & Co.
Dick, Kerr & Co.
Dick, Kerr and Company was a locomotive and tramcar manufacturer based in Kilmarnock, Scotland and Preston, England.-Early history:Having previously been known as W.B.Dick and Company the company had built all kinds of tramway equipment and rolling stock. From 1883 the company joined with John Kerr...
, owned by two Scot
Scot
A Scot is a member of an ethnic group indigenous to Scotland, derived from the Latin name of Irish raiders, the Scoti.Scot may also refer to:People with the given name Scot:* Scot Brantley , American football linebacker...
s: W.B. Dick and John Kerr. The women joined the company in 1914 to help produce ammunition for the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Beginning
Although women had initially been discouraged from playing football, it was believed that such organised sporting activity would be good for morale in wartime factories and would aid production, so competitive sport was encouraged. After beating the men of the factory in an informal game, the women of Dick, Kerr's formed a team, under the management of office worker Alfred Frankland.The team drew strong crowds, playing in charity fixtures against similar teams around the country and they raised money for many injured servicemen during and after the war. It also helped promote women's football around the country. The women were paid 10 shillings a game by Dick, Kerr & Co.
Dick, Kerr & Co.
Dick, Kerr and Company was a locomotive and tramcar manufacturer based in Kilmarnock, Scotland and Preston, England.-Early history:Having previously been known as W.B.Dick and Company the company had built all kinds of tramway equipment and rolling stock. From 1883 the company joined with John Kerr...
to cover their expenses.
The team started to play on 25 December 1917 when 10 000 spectators came to watch a game at Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
.
1920
The team played the first women's international in 1920, against France. The French team were from ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and were led by the great patron of Women's sport in France, Alice Milliat
Alice Milliat
Alice Milliat was a pioneer of women's sport in France and around the world. Her lobbying on behalf of female athletes forced the inclusion of women's events in the Olympic Games....
(1884-1957). There were a total of 4 games played in the UK, the first at Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
, where the Dick, Kerr's Ladies won 2-0, the second match at Stockport was won by the Dick, Kerr's Laides 5-2; the third game in Manchester drew 1-1 and the final was won by the French at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
in London with a score of 2-1.
After the UK tour by the French, the Dick, Kerr Ladies went on to tour in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where they played in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Roubaix
Roubaix
Roubaix is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is located between the cities of Lille and Tourcoing.The Gare de Roubaix railway station offers connections to Lille, Tourcoing, Antwerp, Ostend and Paris.-Culture:...
, Havre
Havre
Havre may refer to:* Havre, Montana* Havre de Grace, Maryland* Havre , Norway* Havre-Aubert, Magdalen Islands, Quebec, Canada* Havre Boucher, Nova Scotia, Canada...
and finally Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
, drawing on three and winning the final game.
The French tour generated tremendous publicity for the team and on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
of 1920 they managed to draw a crowd of 53,000 spectators to watch a match at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in a game against St. Helen's Ladies. The team were featured regularly in the Pathe newsreels of the day and players like Lily Parr
Lily Parr
Lilian "Lily" Parr was an English professional women's association football player who played as a winger. She is best known for playing for the Dick, Kerr's Ladies team, which was founded in 1917 and based in Preston, Lancashire....
and Alice Woods became an appealing draw at British football grounds.
Colours
Their club colours were black and white jerseys and blue shorts and their England colours were white jerseys and blue shorts. The women also wore striped hats to cover their hair.FA ban
The popularity of the team led The Football AssociationThe Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
to ban women's football at its members grounds on 5 December 1921. Ostensibly this was due of concerns that women were not physically able to play football, but there was a belief that the popularity of the team made some in the men's game feel threatened.
USA tour
Despite the ban, the team continued to play on non-FA grounds. In late 1922 the team went on a tour of Canada and the U.S.A. On their arrival in Canada, they were told that they couldn't play, so they crossed the border into the USA.Once in the USA, they discovered they were due to be playing against men's teams, some of which included immigrants who had previously played in the British football league, plus at least one American who would go on to represent the US at the 1930 World Cup finals. Dick, Kerr's Ladies acquitted themselves well, winning three games, drawing three, and losing three. They proved tough opponents.
"I played against them in 1922," recalled Paterson goalkeeper Peter Renzulli
Peter Renzulli
Peter “Pete” Renzulli was a U.S. soccer goalkeeper. He played in the New York State League, National Association Football League and the American Soccer League, winning three National Challenge Cups. Renzulli was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1951.-Playing:In December 1915,...
. "We were national champions and we had a hell of a job beating them."
Later history
During its history the team played 828 games, winning 758, drawing 46, and losing 24.The teams' name changed to Preston Ladies F.C. in the latter part of the 1920s and carried on playing until 1965.
The FA finally recognised women's football in July 1971, 50 years after they had banned the game.
A Preston North End W.F.C.
Preston North End W.F.C.
Preston North End W.F.C. are an English women's football club affiliated with Preston North End F.C. and currently playing in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division.-History:...
exists today (and is playing in the Women's Northern Championship
FA Women's Premier League Northern Division
The FA Women's Premier League Northern Division is a league in the third-level in the women's football pyramid in England, along with the Southern division. These two divisions are below the FA Women's Super League and National Division....
), but is unrelated to this team.
External links
- http://www.dickkerrladies.com First official website dedicated to the Dick,Kerr Ladies.
- The Dick, Kerr Ladies Soccer Tour, 1922 (USA Soccer Archives)
- North West Film Archive Footage of Dick Kerr's ladies football team playing several matches