Home Sports Football When Rail Women Played Football 52 Years Ago

When Rail Women Played Football 52 Years Ago

June 1968

South Yorkshire Times June 8, 1968

When Rail Women Played Football 52 Years Ago

The recent craze for women’s football in South Yorkshire is looked upon as somewhat of an innovation — particularly by some husbands. But licensee of the Red Lion, Mexborough, Mr. Frank Anstock, recently found a photograph of a Mexborough women’s team taken in 1916.

The photo, taken on Hampden Road ground with the old stand as a background, shows a team, which, says Mr, Anstock, who found the protograph among some old papers, had been formed fromwomen railway staff to play charity matches.

There was no chance, however, for the lads to eye any ‘shapely legs, as the were obliged to wear long dungarees for the game.

The picture includes Mr. Anstock’s sister, Janie, who now lives at Kilnhurst, and another young woman who he can identify as Dolly Nicholls.

“I probably knew quite a few of them “said ex-railway guard Mr Anstock, “but it was a long  time ago.”

“I do remember that a big thing was made of it at the time, and there was a really good attendance for the matches,” he added.

We believe that the man on the extreme right of the back row the late Councillor Harry Gough, who was an NUR branch official