10,000 At Ladies’ Match

Lancashire Evening Post December 26, 1917

“There were 10,000 people at Deepdale yesterday afternoon at the ladies football match between two teams representing the munition workers from Dick, Kerr’s and Coulthard’s.

The players all wore orthodox tops, shorts and boots. Coulthard’s were in red and white stripes and Dick, Kerr’s in black and white – with the addition of natty hats to match. Corsets were barred. There was a tendency amongst the players at the start to giggle, but they soon settled down to the game in earnest.

Dick, Kerr’s weren’t long in showing that they had the better all-round idea of the game and a number of their shots would not have disgraced a regular professional.

Within five minutes Dick, Kerr’s had scored through Miss Whittle, and added goals by Miss Birkens – a shot from 15 yards – and Miss Rance.

Coulthard’s ‘bucked up’ after the interval and deserved a goal, but it was denied. On the other hand, Dick, Kerr’s added to their score with Miss Rance netting.”

A (slightly sexist) take on Dick, Kerr’s Ladies’ Christmas Day debut.