A novel match - World War One munition girls play football 1917

One of the interesting and amusing football matches ever seen in Stamford was played on the New Cross Road ground on Saturday afternoon, when eleven of Messrs. Blackstone & Co.’s munition girls played Blackstone’s F.C. The girls wore the regulation men’s soccer clothes, whilst as headgear they were wearing the familiar blue and red munition mob caps.

A large crowd assembled and the members of the fair sex came in for plenty of applause and good-humoured chaffing. Of course, they were outclassed by their opponents, who, it should be said, had to play with their hands tied with tape behind their backs. There were many humorous interludes, especially when the girls handled the ball (without being penalised), if such an action would help them score or prevent the men from scoring.

After a pleasantly contested game, the girls had to admit defeat by 10 goals to 7.

In the first half Miss Sandall, who also officiated as “lineswoman”, kicked off, while after the

interval Mrs T. W. Pinder set the ball rolling. A pleasing incident occurred when Miss Sandall was presented with a nice bouquet by the munition girls.

Mr E. Dunn was referee and Mr J. Porter the other linesman.

The teams were as follows:- Blackstone’s Works F.C. - S. E. Laxton; P. Hardwick, and J. Starsmore; J. Charity, A. A. Leonard (captain), and A. Nutt; A. Loweth, A. Farrow, A. Walker, J. Tomms, and D. Ringham.

Blackstone’s Munition Girls:- Misses C. Holmes; E. Drage, and H. Birch; M. Brewin, M. Turner, and C. Piggot; A. Tomms, F. Barlow (captain), N. Cummins, E. Rudkin, and S. Lilly.

The goals for the girls were scored by Miss Tomms (4), Miss Lilly (2), and Miss Rudkin (1); for the Works by Walker (2), Nutt (1), Charity (1), Farrow (1), Ringham (2), Tomms (2), and Loweth (1).

The gate realised £5 16s 0d, and the match was a benefit for Mr. F. Palmer who sustained a severe sprain in a recent match.

The secretary (Mr. H. W. Simpson) admirably made the arrangements.

Source

Stamford & Rutland News, and South Lincolnshire & North Northamptonshire Chronicle

(Wednesday) October 31st 1917 p6/c1

Notes

The game was played on Saturday October 27th 1917.

A print version can be downloaded HERE