The most important female footballer you’ve never heard of - and why she matters today

She scored a thousand goals in a three-decade career, played in some of the world’s first female football internationals and was a trailblazer for women’s sport the world over.

Lily Parr was one the first female superstars of football and played in front of enormous capacity crowds around the globe - until, just shy of 100 years ago, the Football Association stepped in and banned women from playing at professional grounds in 1921. The ban was defied by many women who continued to play in smaller grounds - but it was not lifted until 1971 and put the brakes on the development of women’s football for generations.

Now unseen photos of Lily, her team-mates and friends have been uncovered in a suitcase in an attic - and are forming part of a new exhibition at the National Football Museum in Manchester.

Why does it matter?

Belinda Scarlett, curator of women’s football at the museum, said learning about Lily’s legacy was helping to inspire young female players today, and she hopes the new exhibition will help boost the profile of the story of her and her team-mates.

The museum is also planning a Lily Parr Activity Day on 20 August 2021.

Belinda said: “Lily is one of the most important figures in world football but is far from a household name. We hope to redress that balance with fresh attention on the women who defied the ban and inspired future generations of girls to play football.

“In 2019 the museum unveiled a statue to Lily – the first statue of a women’s footballer in the UK. We are pleased to further tell the story of Lily and her teammates’ remarkable achievements.

“As well as marking their footballing ability, the display tells of the girls’ defiance to play the game they loved while the powers-that-be tried to ban them.”

What do we know about Lily?

Lily was born in St Helen’s but made her name playing for Preston’s Dick, Kerr Ladies team, which was made up mainly of factory workers.

The team drew massive crowds in the inter-war years, notably with 53,000 attending at Goodison Park in 1920 when Dick, Kerr played the St Helen’s ladies’ team.

When the FA ban kicked in, Dick, Kerr Ladies went on tour in America in 1922 and also toured France.

Lily played with the team (later renamed Preston Ladies) until 1951 and went on to become a nurse. She died aged 73

What’s in the exhibition?

The photos were uncovered by Steve Bolton, a relative of Lily’s team-mate Lizzy Ashcroft. They show the players at the height of their fame, socialising with other top European women’s footballers like Carmen Pomies, cycling and visiting parks.

Also on display is:

• The minute book from 1921 which banned women’s football from league grounds
• A signed postcard of Dick, Kerr Ladies
• Medals presented to Lizzy Ashcroft 

The exhibition will be a permanent fixture at the museum.

What do young footballers today think?

Lily’s legacy is still celebrated in her hometown of St Helen’s, with schoolgirl side Knowsley St Helens playing in black and white stripes to honour her memory.

Centre-back Scarlett Latta, 13, said: “Every time we play it reminds us of the struggles Lily made so that we – and millions of other girls – can play football. Not many people really know her story and now they will.”