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The story of the 1914 Christmas football match between British and German soldiers is one which has gone down into World War One folklore, but on Christmas Day 1917 there was another big match 鈥� this time at Preston North End鈥檚 Deepdale ground.

Ten thousand spectators turned up to watch the women鈥檚 team 鈥� Dick, Kerr Ladies 鈥� play their first ever competitive match. Dick, Kerr鈥檚 went on to become an international sensation, touring the globe including France and the United States.

The team was made up of wartime workers at the Preston company Dick, Kerr & Co Ltd. Sporting activity was seen as a vital way of improving the women鈥檚 welfare. Most munitions factories had their own ladies football team.

At Christmas 1917; Dick, Kerr Ladies played a team from a neighbouring Preston factory. The match raised money for wounded soldiers at the nearby Moor Park Hospital. Dick, Kerr Ladies won 4-0.

According to a newspaper match report: 鈥淒ick, Kerr's were not long in showing that they suffered less than their opponents from stage fright, and they had a better all-round idea of the game. Woman for woman they were also speedier.鈥�

Location: Preston North End FC Deepdale, Sir Tom Finney Way, Preston PR1 6RU
Image: Dick, Kerr Ladies, courtesy of Gail J Newsham; author of 鈥業n a League of Their Own!鈥�

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