Interest in women’s football was growing at grassroots level 50 years ago – although several decades would go by before the professional game earned the recognition it enjoys today.
Soccer for girls was already firmly established at Holden Clough Junior School, Ashton. The team of ten-year-olds played regularly against boys’ teams at Broadoak Sports Centre and were hoping to progress to eight-a-side with other girls’ sides later in the season.
Coached by PE teacher Mr West, the girls were proud to turn out in their smart maroon and gold tops with gold shorts and socks.
Elsewhere Ashton Ladies FC had won promotion to the Three Counties League first division which had helped to attract several new players – enough to form a ‘B’ team.
Former referee Robert Caunce was the club manager while trainer Harold Bradshaw was working closely with the new ‘B’ team captained by Muriel Thomas.
Club captain and secretary Barbara Dunkerley told the Reporter: “We are making progress all the time.”
The ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams were about to play each other in the quarter finals of the Stalybridge Celtic Challenge Cup at Bower Fold. “It should be a real needle match!”
