THE CENTENARY YEAR
The Centenary Year
The Centenary Year
What an incredible year of celebration we had in 2017 to commemorate the success of the Dick, Kerr Ladies in their centenary year. The first Blue Plaque in the world dedicated to a women's football team, was unveiled at the factory where they were formed during the First World War. Still a working factory on a busy main road on Strand Road in Preston, the plaque was unveiled by relatives of two of the original pioneers from 1917. David Coulton and Valerie Conn, the grandchildren of Grace Sibbert and Alice Kell respectively, performed the unveiling on 18 May 2017 in what was a landmark day in the history of women's football. The first in the world for the best in the world!
Please click on the links to see how history was made.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-39964354
http://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2017/05/a-new-blue-plaque-for-preston-and-its-a-world-first/
http://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2017/05/a-new-blue-plaque-for-preston-and-its-a-world-first/
The Centenary Dinner - held at Preston North End on 1 July 2017, as a celebration on the eve of the women's walking football tournament, when 180 guests gathered to pay tribute to the Dick, Kerr Ladies
The First National Women's Walking Football Tournament - 2 July 2017
When Football Banned Women - Channel 4 Documentary - July 2017
The FA Women's Football Awards - September 2017. You can view the video below
Memorial Tribute Unveiling at Preston North End - 22 December 2017
There were many people involved in making the Centenary Year the huge success it became, but in one of my very early conversations with volunteer and good friend, Alison Hitchen, I told her that it had always been my dream to have a permanent memorial to the Dick, Kerr Ladies at Preston North End. Her reply was simple - 'let's do it then'. And so with a great deal of help from a lot of people, we got the show on the road. We set up a steering committee, supported by David Taylor, Vice Chairman of Preston North End and Pro Chancellor and Chair of the UCLan Board, and we were fortunate, and eternally grateful, to capture the imagintion of our founder sponsors: The FA, BAE Systems, UCLan, PNE, FWP Architects, UEFA, and the PFA. The unveiling day was a dream come true. BBC Radio Lancashire, represented by John Gillmore, came to record the countdown as it happened, and a host of other news media came to capture history being made. We had a band and a choir, and the crowds came to show their support too. I don't think anyone imagined just how big the memorial was going to be, and they gasped as the curtains came down. Women's football now has a focal point where people can come and reflect, and hopefully the Dick, Kerr Ladies will continue to inspire many generations to come.
https://twitter.com/bbclancssport/status/944231399225257984?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eios%7Ctwgr%5Ecom.apple.UIKit.activity.PostToFacebook
To commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War in 2018, the Royal British Legion chose Preston North End's Deepdale ground as one of the venues throughout the country for their campaign to remember all those who contributed to the nation during that period. They recognised the important contribution made by the Dick, Kerr Ladies during such a dreadful time in our history.
To commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War in 2018, the Royal British Legion chose Preston North End's Deepdale ground as one of the venues throughout the country for their campaign to remember all those who contributed to the nation during that period. They recognised the important contribution made by the Dick, Kerr Ladies during such a dreadful time in our history.
At the North West Football Awards, held in Manchester in 2018, the Dick, Kerr Ladies received a Special Recognition Award for their services to Women's Football in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the end of WW1. They were described as 'one of the most important teams in the history of women's football'. Check out the video below for more info.