Two of England's greatest ever women footballers are being reunited in an emotional tribute ceremony on Merseyside this Saturday, as plaques honouring Lily Parr and Lizzy Ashcroft are unveiled. These trailblazers of the women's game in the 1920s, decades before the Lionesses' recent extraordinary success, are finally receiving recognition for their outstanding contributions after years of being forgotten.
Emotional Reunion for Football Pioneers
Council officials in St Helens have arranged for the unveiling of two individual plaques that will honour the memory of Parr and Ashcroft. The dear friends and teammates will be "together" once again in front of their relatives at the local leisure centre, creating a poignant moment for both families.
Grandson's Tribute to Forgotten Heroine
Lizzy Ashcroft's grandson, author and historian Steve Bolton, described the event as a "very special day" that marks his grandmother's time finally coming. "My granny walked with giants," said Bolton, 61. "We never knew this and never really appreciated her for it. I now know different and a little part of me will be forever sad that we weren't able to appreciate her when we knew her."
Bolton has worked tirelessly in recent years for the pioneers of women's football to be recognised. He noted that Parr has become a mythical figure, something he believes she would find amusing. After the 1926 general strike, both women became mental health nurses together in rural Whittingham, working long hard days in difficult conditions while continuing their football adventures.
Historic Context of Women's Football
From the 1900s, women's football was hugely popular in England, with teams playing friendlies and raising money for charities in front of large crowds. Lizzy Ashcroft made her debut for St Helens at age 16 in 1921 during this golden era, playing in front of 85,000 spectators in her first eight games alone.
Despite the Football Association's 1921 ban on women playing at its members' grounds - declared "unsuitable for females" - Ashcroft continued playing until 1935, eventually taking the captaincy from her great friend Lily Parr. This ban lasted 50 years, until 1971, effectively erasing women's football from official recognition for half a century.
Modern Recognition for Historic Contributions
While a blue plaque was erected for the St Helens Ladies team last year, these new plaques represent the first individual awards for women from that pioneering era. Bolton, a prominent contemporary British historian specialising in women's football history, has been instrumental in bridging the gap between academic research and public storytelling to recover these "lost" narratives.
Connecting Past and Present
Bolton reflected on how his grandmother would view today's Lionesses: "She would have had nothing but pride in the success of the modern ambassadors of the game. Like a lot of the women of that era, she and her friend Parr were incredibly shy and reticent; she would have admired them, not just for their footballing skills, but for the confident and articulate ease with which they present themselves."
He added that today's players are role models for young girls and boys, while his grandmother came from a humble generation of proud, strong Merseyside women who survived two world wars and formed the backbone of their families and communities.
Symbolic Homecoming
The location holds special significance, as Liverpool women now play in St Helens. "Granny and Parr have finally 'come home'," Bolton remarked. He looks forward to meeting the Parr family at the ceremony, noting that being introduced to Lily Parr was like saying "I once met Pele" in certain circles.
This emotional tribute represents more than just plaque unveilings - it's a restoration of historical memory, a celebration of resilience against institutional barriers, and a powerful connection between the pioneering women who kept football alive during decades of official prohibition and the modern athletes who now inspire millions.
