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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Yoric on Tuesday 08 May 18 16:22 BST (UK)
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Hi Everyone,
I've recently been sent a photo regarding an great aunt of my partner.
The photo was taken around 1915 to 1916 and concerns a female works football team.
From the history we've been given her great aunt worked at Leavesden Hospital and The Cobra Factory in Watford.
We've been unable to determine anything else about this photo and are trying to find some history around the football team and other potential family members in the photo.
Any information would be greatly appriciate.
Many thanks,
Yoric
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New information I've been informed of regarding this photo.
The granddaughter of one of the women in the photo tells me that the football team was from Waterlow and Sons based in Watford.
Now looking to see if I can find the names of any of the team members. Anybody has any ideas where I can get any records or have any information regards the team would be appreciated. Thanks
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Hi
Waterlows Watford were closed down in the mid-late 1920's
The eventual remainders of Waterlows were taken over by De La Rue.
Worth trying them?
Alternatively, try Watford Museum?
RegardsRay[ Just to let you know, there is a note on your Rootschat profile saying that your emails do not work ]
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Hi Ray,
Thanks for the info.
I'll give them a go and see what I can get.
Yeah, I have only recently returned to Rootschat. I've tried resetting my email and changing it but it still displays the same message!
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I'm afraid I don't know much about the team from Watford but I do recall watching a very good documentary last year I think, all about women's football during the first world war. It was presented by Clare Balding and featured many teams, mainly from factories, who made up a league and matches were attracting crowds of 20,000 plus. It may be worth searching BBC i player archives to perhaps glean some info.
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The documentary sounds fascinating!!
My mother played for the Wellington Fox's Factory team from Wellington, Somerset in the 1960s but I didn't realise (in my ignorance) that the history of women's football went back this far, facinating in the current light of things. Thanks I'll look into this.
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Welcome back Yoric and thanks for updating your email address, I have just removed the email notice for you. Thanks Ray :)
Sarah
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I had a quick look on bbc i player but no luck, however if you go to Youtube and type in History of Womens Football there are several short documentaries that you may find interesting.
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There was a team about that time called something like "Bob Kerr's Ladies" playing in the Accrington, Lancs area but I know very little about them. I think some started during the Great War, especially with women working in factories, and I suppose that as men returned and reclaimed their jobs the ladies teams would fade away?
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Still nothing about team but interesting articles here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/33064421/the-secret-history-of-womens-football
Mentions Bob Kerr’s Ladies
And
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30329606
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Dick, Kerr and Co had the most successful football club EVER - Dick, Kerr Ladies.
The company's peacetime trade was in electrical switchgear and electric trams, but became a munitions supplier when the Great War started.
The team started at their Preston works in 1917, and continued until 1965, playing 828 games, winning 758, drawing 46, and losing only 24.
Their matches drew huge crowds. On boxing Day 1920, 53,000 spectators packed Everton's ground to see the match against St. Helens Ladies. There were between 10,000 and 14,000 unable to get in!
Their popularity incensed the Football Association, who banned women's football from F.A. grounds in 1921.
Dick, Kerr Ladies team survived because they actually had their own pitch.
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Thanks Sarah for sorting the email issue out- very much appreciated. Thanks Ray,
I've also had a look as well for the documentary. Found lots of interesting information.
It's amazing how popular these teams were and the crowd numbers obviously reflected this- still can't believe the FA put the ban in place.