Over 100 years of women's football at Molineux
In December 1921 the F.A. decreed that football was ‘unsuitable for women’. It wasn’t until the early 1970s that their female feet were allowed back on to the hallowed turf of stadia such as Molineux. However, one very proud grandson will be treading in the steps of his superstar footballing Granny when he presents a talk and exhibition at the Wolves Museum on Saturday, June 28, just prior to the Lionesses starting their defence of the Euros in Switzerland.
Steve Bolton is a football historian and he is the grandson of Lizzy Ashcroft. Lizzy joined the famous Dick Kerr Ladies team in 1923 when they were thrashed 5 v 0 by the St Helens Ladies in their final game.
Lizzy went on to become vice-captain under the famous Lily Parr, eventually taking over from Lily and leading only their second ever tour to France in 1935, before retiring to marry and bring up a family. However, prior to the ban, Lizzy made her debut in April 1921 at the tender age of 16, at St Andrews, in front of 30,000. She also played at the Hawthorns and Molineux. In her first eight games she was seen by crowds totalling 85,000.
Steve says: "St Helens were a very established team in 1921 and were one of the few teams able to take on the world famous Dick Kerr Ladies. New kids on the block, were the ambitious Stoke Ladies, who fancied themselves as rivals to the DKL.
"St Helens and Stoke fought four very close games to decide who was the second best team. After the 1-1 draw at St Andrews they fought out another two close 1-1 draws, one at Hanley (Port Vale, crowd 5,000) and a third at the Hawthorns, with a crowd of 10,000. After dispatching strong northern side Birkenhead Ladies 1 v 0 at Molineux in front of 15,000 they then played achieved their second most important win, 2 v 1 over Stoke Ladies at Molineux, in front of a crowd of 8,000.
"This will be a very emotional visit for me. I have been to St Andrews before, but this is the first time that I have been able to visit Molineux. To think that 104 years ago, my 16 year-old Granny played twice at this famous stadium is amazing.
"I never knew any of this as I was growing up and it is only now as a football historian that I can appreciate her achievements. "
