Preston, Lancashire: The Mecca of Women’s Football in the UK

Women’s football in the UK has thrived during the past few decades, but it has not always been so. In the past, women were often discouraged from playing football. The FA-imposed ban that prevented women from using the member grounds and lasted for 50 years from 1921 to 1971, presented a major hurdle to the advancement of this sport.

However, times have changed, and women’s football is now a much-favoured sport not only in the UK but also worldwide. There are many prominent international tournaments, and the sport gets a lot of publicity. Female football players are featured in magazines, TV shows, documentaries, and movies all the time, and modern-day media go the extra mile to combat gender stereotypes. One famous and entertaining example is the 2002 romantic comedy Bend It Like Beckham:

Arsenal WFC – Preston’s Competitor in Attracting Top Players

One team that is also regarded as a top destination for the best players in women’s football is Arsenal. This team plays in the Women’s Super League and its history is nothing short but amazing.

The numerous titles and achievements that Arsenal WFC managed to collect are among the reasons why it is considered by many as one of the top-rated women’s football teams. For starters, Arsenal WFC has won the most doubles and trebles in the history of English football.

In terms of the number of titles that Arsenal managed to lift over the years, its resume has:

• 15 league titles
• 10 Women’s National League Cups
• 5 FA Community Shield
• 14 FA Cups
• 5 Women League Cups

To make things even better, Arsenal is the only English women’s team to win the Champions League. Many ladies’ football clubs tried to win more than 4 titles in one competitive season, but Arsenal was the first women’s team to achieve a sextuple. It did that in the 2006/07 season.

These accolades, combined with the funding that the club receives, the dedication to its youth system, etc., make it an attractive destination for female players. That is also why Arsenal is among the best women’s football teams.

Some notable names that have been a part of this team and are members of Arsenal’s Hall of Fame are Rachel Yankey, Kelly Smith, Katie Chapman and Fara Williams.

The stronghold of women’s football in the North

Regardless of all obstacles and drawbacks, Preston is one of the most famous women’s football destinations in the UK. It was the home of the legendary Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C. and North End W.F.C. Unfortunately, the wildly successful Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C. disbanded in 1965, and North End W.F.C. transitioned to Fylde and changed its name to AFC Fylde Women.

Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C.

Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C. was founded in 1917, becoming one of the first women’s association football teams in Britain. Throughout its 48 years of existence, the team played a total of 833 games and won 759 of them. It scored even in 46 matches and lost only 28.

The team was so beloved that in its early years before the FA ban was imposed, its games attracted crowds as large as 50,000 spectators. An interesting fact is that in 1920, Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C. defeated a French female team 2 – 0 in what appears to have been the first international women’s association football game.

Founding of Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C.

Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C. originates from the Dick, Kerr & Co ammunition factory in Preston. It was formed as a works squad by women who joined the company in 1914. At the time, it was considered that organized sports activities would boost wartime morale, so factory workers were often encouraged to join informal teams and compete in in-house tournaments.

Soon enough, the ladies from the Dick, Kerr & Co factory were able to prove their football talent by beating the male factory team in a casual game. An office clerk, Alfred Frankland, saw the potential of the female squad and agreed to become the manager of the newly-founded Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C.

At first, the women’s football club played in charity matches to raise money during and after World War I. However, the team gained tremendous momentum. The 1920 victory against a French squad from Paris gave the start to a truly impressive football journey. Dick, Kerr F.C. played in front of an audience of 53,000 on Boxing Day of 1920 against St. Helen’s Ladies at Goodison Park. The occasion marked the world’s record for the largest crowd at a women’s club match, which remained intact for 98 years.

The FA Ban

However, the growing popularity of the Dick, Kerr Ladies squad and women’s football, in general, did not appeal to some. Women were discouraged from playing football because they were regarded as not physically fit for this kind of sport. However, there were allegations that the fame of Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C. threatened the male team. The women’s club’s games were often far more crowded than the matches of the men’s team.

So, in 1921, the FA imposed a ban on women’s football, making it impossible for the ladies to use the member grounds. The restriction severely impacted the Dick, Kerr Ladies team as well as UK’s women’s football in general, as the players were forced to practise and play at smaller capacity fields, depriving them of access to resources and sufficient exposure.

Finally, in 1971, the FA lifted the ban. However, the Dick, Kerr Ladies had already folded, bringing the end to a glorious era for Preston’s women’s football.

AFC Fylde Women

AFC Fylde Women was founded in 1971. The team was originally known as the Duke of York and was a founding member of the North West Women’s Football League. Initially, the club was affiliated with Preston and was called subsequently Preston Rangers W.F.C. and Preston North End W.F.C. However, it later changed its affiliation from Preston North End to AFC Fylde and has been known as AFC Fylde Women since the start of the 2019/20 season. The team was promoted into the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division for the first time in 2005/06.

Adult Female Football in Lancashire

Lancashire is a heaven for women’s football. At present, there are over 100 female adult teams participating at all levels of the women’s football hierarchy. Some of the available female football leagues include:

• Lancashire FA County Women’s League
• North West Women’s Regional Football League
• FA Women’s National League
• FA Women’s Super League

The games are typically played on Sunday afternoons in a 11v11 format. There is also a 9v9 summer league for recreational players. The program focuses on fitness, building friendships, and simply having fun. It started in 2017 and established itself as a great success from the beginning. In 2018, six out of the enrolled 14 teams transitioned into the Lancashire FA Women’s County League.