A remarkable discovery has been made of a film capturing a women’s football match that took place in 1917, marking the earliest known footage of a female game. Historian Steve Bolton conducted extensive research to identify the match held on September 1, 1917, during World War One. The brief 29-second clip holds immense historical importance, shedding light on the Sterling Ladies FC, pioneers of women’s football who were dubbed the ‘Invincibles’ for their exceptional talent.
Bolton expressed the significance of his findings, stating, “This does have real historic significance. We knew that film footage existed but, finally, after years of research I’ve managed to establish which games are which and can categorically confirm that the September 1, 1917 footage is the oldest known to exist.”
The Sterling Ladies FC, hailing from Dagenham, east London, triumphed over Burton Vowles with a score of 6-1 on the “Gordon Fields of Ilford FC.” The footage captures key moments of the game, including the coin toss led by the team captains, and showcases the players’ skills on the field.
The match was organized to raise funds for the Cowlin Memorial Fund in honor of a local hero who perished in the Somme. The event featured various attractions, including an athletics competition, musical performances by renowned bands, and appearances by notable figures like Sir Peter Griggs and Lady Griggs.
Further investigations by Bolton revealed additional footage of three more matches involving the Sterling Ladies FC, highlighting their remarkable achievements on the field. The historical significance of these findings sheds light on the overlooked contributions of the Sterlings to women’s football and their role during wartime.
