A remarkable piece of football history has emerged, highlighting the dramatic evolution of the women's game over the past half-century. A match programme from a 1976 friendly between Liverpool and Everton women's teams, dubbed the "Petticoat Derby", has resurfaced, offering a startling glimpse into a very different era for the sport.
A Snapshot in Time: The 1976 Programme
The game was played on 28th November 1976 as a charity fundraiser. The surviving programme, discovered on eBay by football historian Steve Bolton, describes the female players not by their athletic prowess or positions, but by their physical appearance.
"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?" Bolton remarked. "It was just a different time back then."
The programme entries read like personal descriptions rather than athlete profiles. The Liverpool team featured Sue Neal, wife of defender Phil Neal, listed as "Age 25, hair red, eyes hazel, height 5ft 4in". Similarly, Jean Keegan (wife of Kevin Keegan) was "Age 22, hair blonde eyes blue height 5ft 4in", and Barbara Hughes (wife of Emlyn Hughes) was "Age 28, hair brown eyes green height 5ft 3in". Valerie Wilcocks was described as "Terry McDermott's girlfriend", aged 24.
Contrast With Modern Football
This historical artefact stands in stark contrast to the modern status of women's football, epitomised by the Lionesses' brilliant Euros triumph in 2022. The 1976 match itself was a significant event, raising hundreds of pounds for charity and attended by Liverpool stars like John Toshack and Everton's Mick Lyons.
Bolton, who owns one of the finest private collections of women's football memorabilia, including items from before World War One, explained the programme's significance. "By modern attitudes it is very dated and sexist," he said. "However, it is a thing of its time and it is a little piece of history."
Historical Context of Women's Football
The discovery is particularly poignant given the sport's troubled history. Women's football was hugely popular after the First World War, with teams playing charity matches for large crowds. However, the Football Association imposed a 50-year ban in 1921, prohibiting matches at its grounds, deeming the sport "unsuitable for females".
This ban was only lifted in 1971, making this 1976 fixture part of the early resurgence of the women's game. Bolton, whose own grandmother Lizzy Ashcroft was a celebrated post-WWI player, understands this context deeply. He was just twelve years old when this historic match took place.
Reflecting on how far the sport has progressed, Bolton joked: "Perhaps one day we can have a 'Husbands and Boyfriends' game for charity. Then the tables would have turned." He now hopes to feature the programme on the Antiques Roadshow, noting the challenge of finding an appropriate expert for such a unique piece of sporting history.
