Football History

Podcast: Pioneers of Women’s Football

FREE TO USE IMAGES Pictured: The statue of Lily Parr. The UKs first ever statue of a female footballer commissioned by Mars has been unveiled today at the National Football Museum, Manchester. The life size bronze statue, created by sculptor Hannah Stewart, has been created in honour of womenís football trailblazer Lily Parr, a former Dick, Kerr FC left winger who scored over 980 goals during her 32-year career. Contact: Ella Robinson, Porter Novelli, 07971 809 644 PR Handout - Free to use

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The statue of Lily Parr. The UK’s first-ever statue of a female footballer
[Photo: National Football Museum, Manchester]

My guest is Belinda Scarlett, curator at the National Football Museum in Manchester. We’re talking ahead of a new exhibition in 2021 that builds on the museum’s existing women’s football collection.

We discuss the influential Dick, Kerr Ladies side that drew 50,000-plus crowds before the FA banned women’s football on its affiliated grounds in 1921. The ban lasted 50 years. What could have happened in the women’s game had there never been a ban?

It’s a fascinating listen and an important backdrop to the recent growth of the women’s game.

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