Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C. founded in Preston, Lancashire as a World War I-era works team for the company Dick, Kerr & Co. was one of the earliest known women’s association football teams in England. The team remained in existence for over 48 years, from 1917 to 1965, playing 833 games, winning 759, drawing 46, and losing 28. During its early years, matches played for charity attracted anywhere from 4,000 to over 50,000 spectators per game. In 1920, Dick, Kerr Ladies defeated a French side 2–0 in front of 25,000 people, a match that went down in history as the first international women’s association football game. The team faced strong opposition by The Football Association (FA), who banned the women from using fields and stadiums controlled by FA-affiliated clubs for 50 years (the rule was repealed in 1971).
Dick, Kerr’s Ladies played in Leicester twice in the 1920s. The first against St Helen’s Ladies in 1920 played at Filbert Street attracted more 13,000 spectators. The result was never for a moment in doubt after the Mayor kicked off. Dick, Kerr’s easily won the game. Leicester City directors defrayed all expenses and at the end of the match the two footballs used, autographed by all the players were sold by auction for £20 each, the game raising £740 for Alderman Chaplin’s fund for Leicester unemployed.
In the second game 7 years later, on Thursday 8 September 1927, they played Blackpool Ladies at the Agricultural Show Ground, Aylestone Road in front of 1,000 spectators; admission cost 6d and 2s 6d (stands). Leicester City players acted as officials – Kenneth Campbell was the referee, with Johnny Duncan and Sid Bishop as linemen. Majority of ‘stars’ played including Miss Florrie Redford, centre half, and captain, Miss Lilly Parr, remarkably nimble and speedy performer at outside left and Miss Jeanie Harris, inside right and a wonderful dribbler. It was a one-sided game which Dick Kerr’s won 11-2, their opponents missing several contrived penalties. The Blackpool side included local girl Miss E Snow at inside right for Blackpool who showed great speed ‘if wanting better control of the ball.’ The Blaby girl, who had recently won the ladies half mile cycle race was chosen to play following an advertisement placed in the Leicester Mercury by the Dick, Kerr’s team asking for applications from “Leicester girls anxious to play football.”
Both games attracted considerable press attention, raising important issues – dress reform, the feminine ideal, women’s sexuality, and the rigid British class structure.