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Fair Footballers

Music hall star George Robey kicks off the action at this international ladies' footie match at Herne Hill, South London.

Non-Fiction 1925 1 mins Silent

Overview

In a match billed as England v France, Dick, Kerr's Ladies played French ladies' team Femina at Herne Hill. This short but pristine newsreel film shows the England team posing with music hall star George Robey just before the match, with Robey appearing to demonstrate his soccer skills. Topical Budget's camera is positioned from the sidelines and behind one of the goals, capturing segments of match action.

Ladies football had grown in popularity during WWI, with teams made up of female munitions factory workers. Their matches drew large crowds and raised money for wounded soldiers and charities. The Preston team, Dick, Kerr's Ladies was one of, if not the, most famous of these ladies' teams. The match seen here took place at the Herne Hill Velodrome, which was the 1908 and 1948 Olympic venue. Herne Hill was also a temporary home to Crystal Palace Football Club during the First World War.