1920s women’s football trailblazer Lily Parr, who scored 980 career goals, immortalised with statue at National Football Museum
IT has been unveiled in Manchester nearly 100 years after the first women’s football match between England and France
Trailblazing 1920s footballer Lily Parr has been immortalised with a life-sized bronze statue at the National Football Museum.
It has been revealed in Manchester nearly 100 years after the first women’s football match between England and France.
Unveiled on Monday by Lily’s cousin June Patten, the statue of the Dick, Kerr Ladies legend is the UK’s first ever statue of a female footballer.
Patten said: “I think it’s marvellous. It makes me feel very proud because to us, she was just our Lil.
“To think that she is so revered, honoured and respected is wonderful.”
“I don’t think she realised [she was a pioneer in women’s football]. It probably didn’t register until people told her.”
“Lily was very modest but underneath it all she was delighted about what she had achieved.”
One of the earliest stars of women's football, Parr netted over 980 goals in 833 games in a playing career spanning 32 years.
Reputed to possess one of the most powerful left feet in the game, and with an ability to score from extraordinary angles, the openly gay icon joined the Dick, Kerr Ladies as a full back aged just 14, before moving to the left wing in 1921.
The team comprised of workers from a munitions factory in Preston and fuelled the growing interest in women’s football during the First World War.
Regularly attracting large crowds, the Dick, Kerr Ladies famously beat St Helens Ladies 4-0 at Goodison Park on Boxing Day 1920 in front of 53,000 supporters – a record that stood for nearly 100 years. The FA banned women from playing football less than a year later.
Sculptor Hannah Stewart says she hopes the statue commissioned by Mars will inspire Phil Neville’s side in their quest to bring home the World Cup next month.
“The fact that Lily’s family recognise it as her and see her character in the statue means a lot to me, it’s hugely important.
“Hopefully the Lionesses will see this as a real sign that the country are right behind them.”