The evening was set fair for the Grand Challenge Football Match at Birstall Longslade School. And the comments were coming thick and fast from the team in maroon and blue.
“Go on, fruit, you’re through!” …. “I’m fair puffed.” “You haven’t got a bottle of nut brown, have you love? ”
No twelve-stone stalwarts these but ladies nimble and athletic, billed as opponents to the multi-shirted veterans of the ‘Gentlemen’s Over-40 XI’.
The EMGALS (as the team was ingeniously dubbed by a fellow East Midlands Gas Board employee) were born of the ambition of 13 lively girls to emulate their Leicester City heroes. Together for the most part at school, in sport, and at work (in the Gas Boards De Montfort Street offices) they contrived to carry vocal Filbert Street support to positive physical, action and badgered Frank Renshaw into coaching better them.
‘Nothing Complex’
Bespectacled, 26-year-old Frank takes his honorary post seriously. On the night of the game he paced the touchline in crimson tracksuit verbally lashing any lax-playing member of his squad within earshot.
The Renshaw training plan ignored complex 4-3-3 systems (“we leave that to the pros”) and hinged instead on the basics of kicking, trapping and tackling. It soon meant that each girl naturally fitted a notch in the team line-up. They not only looked the part (originally in a blue strip loaned by their Filbert Street benefactors and now, deliciously, in their own kit) but began to play recognisable, cohesive football.
June Fellows was swiftly converted from attacker to goalkeeper – not merely because the fleecy yellow jersey best fitted her proportions. Pam Thomas proved a bustling attack leader. Sheila Hogg tackled with the crunch of Graham Cross. And, at centre-half, Joy Ashby was the sheet-anchor of a defence described by Frank, with fearful undertones, as “uncompromising”.
“You know how girls are in any game,” said coach Renshaw. “They rush in a pack for the ball wherever it may be.” At one time he had ten centre-forwards in his hands. Now the EMGALS use the open spaces ad search for openings.”
Raw but Tough
Matt Gillies might still think their actions raw. But at least these girls (aged between 16 and 20) are tough.
While spectators winced, wing-half Angie Boulton took a hefty cross-shot in the centre of her stomach and nonchalantly booted the ball upfield. Pam Thomas went sprawling over an outstretched leg, scrambled to her feet and began another fervent gallop for possession. And the indestructible June dived at te feet of an ‘Over-40s’ attacker – trusting a little to male gallantry- and emerged yet again with ball clutched to bosom.
They play, and train, in all weathers, too,” said Frank Renshaw. A delicate mixture of sun and shadow sliced the sloping pitch throughout – with but a slight breeze to ruffle the linesmen’s flags. But even in the teeth of a wind-whipped deluge, EMGALS play on regardless. No worries about cleverly-contrived perms here. “There’s nothing I like better than a sprawling save in the mud,” said goalkeeper June gaily. “But when the grounds get hard and frosty I’ll begin to worried!” she added, with an inspection of a scar of battle – one slightly grazed knee.
The grls scoff at those who class feminine football as a fairground attraction. “We are out to play serious football,” sad one. ‘People can think what they like.”
This was no soccer XI drummed up for charity destined for disbanding when the ‘silly season’ subsides. “We aim to train right through the winter,” said Frank Renshaw, “though we face trouble in find covered facilities during long nights to come.”
Ladies League
He talks of a Leicester League with other ladies’ teams as the South Leicester Co-op, Parmeko, City Supporters’ Club and the gloriously-named Earl Shilton Rockers joining EMGALS in the fixture list. “And why not extend it to Nottingham and Northampton?” said Frank.
Fellow coach, trainer, medico and factotum Neville Spires the “two Daves” (Hall and Ball) assist with training (helped along by a few energetic nights at the Palais) and injuries – with bruises most common and cramp a major crippler. All behind the EMGALS development, with Gas Board management casting a cautious, but not disapproving eye on the whole venture.
“These girls (in the 1967 team) can get married and drop from the game,” commented Frank. “But, as far as we are concerned, EMGALS will go, for a long, long time to come.”
On the night of the Grand Challenge Match. I have to report, they went on for precisely 30 minutes each way, beat the “Over-40s” 7-6, then retired for an after-match jubilee in an adjoining pub. After all even professionals breaking training sometimes for possession.
Leicester Chronicle – 22 September 1967