What Ladies' Football Is.

From the Lancashire Evening Post, 22nd December 1917.

WHAT LADIES' FOOTBALL IS.

Considerable curiosity is being shown locally in what I believe will be the first ladies’ football match played in Preston, for there is no record of the visit to the town of the team that toured the country 25 to 30 years ago.  I am informed that the girls who are to compose the sides representing Dick, Kerr's, and Coulthard's, on Christmas Day at Deepdale, are practising assiduously, and that, indeed, the game is being pursued seriously by many more than can be found places for on this occasion.  In all, I believe, close upon a hundred of Dick, Kerr’s girls have been turning out, but the final selection will he made from about 27.  I do not know quite what people expect to see at these matches.  There are one or two of the girls, I am told, who are very clever, especially one Florrie Redfern, Dirk, Kerr's inside right, but whether this kind of thing runs through the lot or not remains to be seen.  One or two old hands at the game have been endeavouring to instil into them an idea of organised, as opposed to what may be described as mob, effort, but as rule these precepts are apt to be entirely forgotten on the day, and it becomes merely a joyous scramble.  However, the girls pretend to nothing but that which comes within their limited powers in such a strenuous and skilful game as football, and they are to be commended for the effort in the sacred cause of war charity.  I hear, by the way, that Mr. John Lewis has been refused petrol to come from Blackburn in his car to referee the match, but although the railway service on Christmas Day is impossible I rather fancy he will contrive to be present.  It is the one football refereeing experience he has not had.  In any case, both for the sake of the girls and the cause, I hope there will be a big gathering at Deepdale on Tuesday.  Already 200 of the 2s. 6d. stand seats have been sold.