It’s the anniversary of the Liverpool v Everton women’s match dubbed the “Petticoat Derby” and how the programme described players’ eye and hair colour and gave their height
The match day programme described the colour of the women players’ hair – and even the colour of their eyes.
The game between Liverpool and Everton women was played on 28th November 1976. And a football historian who came across the programme on eBay said reading it shows the giant leaps women’s football has made in the last half century. It’s certainly a long way from the Lionesses’ brilliant Euros triumph earlier this summer.
“Can you imagine England stars like Hannah Hampton, Beth Mead or Millie Bright being labelled in a match day programme today by their eye colour, hair colour and height?” says respected football historian Steve Bolton. “It was just a different time back then.”
The match was a friendly charity fund-raiser but reading the programme is looking at a snapshot of history. The wives of Phil Neal, Kevin Keegan and Emlyn Hughes were described as: Sue Neal. Age 25, hair red, eyes hazel, height 5ft 4in.
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Jean Keegan, Age 22, hair blonde eyes blue height 5ft 4in. Barbara Hughes Age 28, hair brown eyes green height 5ft 3in. Then Valerie Wilcocks was described as “Terry McDermott’s girlfriend” and Age 24, Eyes brown, height 5ft 5 1/2 in.
Bolton became a historian after finding out his grandmother, Lizzy Ashcroft, was one of the great players after World War One. He was just a child when Lizzy died, aged 68, in 1973. He has spent years researching her career and discovered she was an exceptional player.
Women’s football continued to be popular after the First World War. Teams played friendlies for charities, often in front of large crowds. But then the FA banned matches at its members’ grounds in 1921 saying they were “unsuitable for females”.
The ban lasted for 50 years until 1971. Bolton explained: “This 1976 programme popped up one day on eBay for not much money. Normally I wouldn’t have bothered but when I looked at the details I realised that I recognised the entire Liverpool team and a good few of the Everton team.
“I was 12 years old when this match took place and my dad, a good footballer himself, was a huge fan of the all conquering Keegan, Hughes, Neal, legends. I just couldn’t resist. I am so glad that I didn’t.
“By modern attitudes it is very dated and sexist. However, it is a thing of its time and it is a little piece of history. It makes an interesting and contrasting addition to my collection.”
One local newspaper headlined the match “the petticoat derby”. It raised hundreds of pounds for charity and was was watched by some of the great Merseyside players including Liverpool’s John Toshack and Goodison hero Mick Lyons.
Bolton joked: “Perhaps one day we can have a ‘Husbands and Boyfriends’ game for charity. Then the tables would have turned… I am hoping one day to get this lot onto the Antiques Roadshow, but which ‘expert’ they would find to advise me would be interesting!”
Bolton has one of the best collection of women’s football memorabilia in private hands, with items dating back to pre WW1. It includes women’s football match programmes going back to 1921, with examples from every decade.
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