BELLES OF THE BALL...
Football group want your memories of famous women’s team
Reformer readers are being asked to dust off their recollections of the Cambuslang Hooverettes for a good cause.
The all-conquering women’s football team from the early 1970s were recently featured by Football Memories – a group which uses the beautiful game to help support people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Now, group member Robert Harvey is keen to find out more about the famous females and would be delighted to hear from any of the team’s former players.
A football historian is urging locals to dust off their recollections of the all-conquering Cambuslang Hooverettes.
Robert Harvey, who works with the Football Memories group, is searching for information on the famous female football team of the early 1970s.
The women were recently featured by the group, and Robert would be delighted to hear from any of the team’s former players.
Football Memori e s uses the beautiful game to help support people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as anyone who wishes to reminisce about the sport.
Recently, the group has had to suspend face-to-face meetings, but has continued to make resources available online to download, such as old stories, pictures and weekly quizzes.
Among the old photographs supplied by the Scottish Football Museum was a snap from 1971 of the Cambuslang Hooverettes.
Accompanying the picture, museum curator Richard McBrearty wrote: “In just eight years this club, which was linked to the vast Hoover factory, climbed to the very top of women’s football.
“They were joint winners of the Women’s International Football Tournament at Deal in Kent.
“As well as their on-field success, what makes the Hooverettes so special is their fantastic fundraising work for charity.
“The team of 1971 were Margaret McGarvie, Anne Mulvenna, Katie McAllister, Margaret Docherty, Sally O’Connor, Patsy Boyle, Elaine Fergus, Nancy Roy, Joan Wilson, Margaret Smith and Liz Chambers.”
Robert, the organiser of the group’s Glasgow and Rutherglen branch, told the Reformer: “It would be fantastic to hear from any of the ladies, and their memories of the team.
“It sounds like they were very active, and could have some good stories to tell, so we would love to hear from them as we don’t have too much information at the moment.”
Cambuslang’s Hoover factory was a major employer in the area for almost 60 years, with 5000 workers in its 70s heyday. It closed in 2003 with the loss of 260 jobs.
Anyone with information on the Hoover et t es should contact glasgow@footballmemoriesscotland.co.uk or email jonathan.geddes@reachplc.com
Additional information can be found at www.footballmemoriesscotland.co.uk.