By Fraser Clyne
It was great to see the Arbroath FC women’s team kicking off their season at the weekend.
What many Lichties fans may not know is that women’s football in the town was first played more than a century ago.
An exhibition match was held at Gayfield in 1895 featuring two teams from the visiting British Ladies Football Club.
Then, during WW1, many businesses in the town formed women’s teams who played matches to raise funds for the war effort.
Then, in 1921, the Arbroath women’s football team, kitted out in the same maroon jerseys as their male counterparts, played two matches against Dundee.
The first took place at Dens Park on 13th August when a crowd estimated at close to 15,000 watched the home side defeat the Lichties 1-0. The game was held as part of the Dundee Police Sports.
A rematch took place at Gayfield 11 days later when 1500 spectators turned out to watch the Dundonians win 2-1.
Here’s a photo of the women’s team.
Back row: M Nicoll, J Alexander, J Beatts, L Anderson, P Mackay, A Steel, M Walker, F Blair.
Front row: Nellie Walsh, Barbara Milne, Lizzie Robertson, Mary Stewart, Cissie Boath, Bella Welsh.
