The name Lily Parr, who played women’s football, may be familiar to people. Most people do not know her story or influence, or, more importantly, how it pertains to the story of women’s soccer.
Early Childhood Of Lily Parr
Born in Gerrard’s Bridge St. Helens in 1905, Lily Parr was a striking figure and a remarkable woman who led a remarkable life. Her mother Sarah, stayed at home to take care of the couple’s seven children while her father worked at a nearby glass factory. Having been the fourth child, Lily enjoyed playing with her older brothers from an early age.
She refused to engage in the interests that were traditionally the domain of little girls. Parr’s character was temerarious and daring. She also stood out from other girls her age because of her large and strong frame, and she pursued more and more male interests. Her focus was not on learning to cook or sew, but on learning to kick and tackle. As early as 13 years old, she could hold her own against her brothers in both rugby and football.
With a lethal left foot and a height of six feet, she began her playing career in 1919, when she was just 14 years old. Alfred Frankland, manager of Kerr’s Ladies, invited her to join his already talented squad after she impressed him in her second match, playing for St Helens Ladies against Dick Kerr’s Ladies.
Offered A Job
Parr and one of her friends were offered a place on the team by Alfred Frankland after he was impressed. In exchange for playing a game, Dick Kerr offered a job at the factory and extra 10 shillings. In addition, Franklin arranged homes for the girls in Preston. After accepting the offer, Parr moved in with Dick Kerr star Alice Norris. Preston became home to one of the greatest goal scorers in women’s football history.
Founded in World War I as a works team for Dick, Kerr & Co., Dick Kerr’s Ladies were a charitable team, playing games to raise funds for the National Association of Discharged and Disabled Soldiers and Sailors. Dick Kerr ladies team played unofficially as England’s representatives against the touring French side in 1920, gaining almost £3,000 in charity across four games while winning twice, losing once, and drawing once.
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As a result, team members played return matches in France. When they returned to England. The team attracted large crowds (53,000 attended Goodison Park) and helped raise over £5,000 for charitable causes over several matches (over £200,000 today).
Lily Parr scored five goals in a 9-1 win against the Best of Britain in 1921. Kerr’s defeated the France national side 5-1 in front of 15,000. Parr scored 43 goals in her first season.
No Matter What The Politics Are
Lily Parr was quickly becoming a national hero as the Dick Kerr Ladies became a popular football team throughout the UK. Kerr’s and women’s soccer were caught up in a political battle when they began to raise large sums of money.
However, as Kerr’s used the women’s game to help the Labour Movement, the Football Association suppressed the team because it supported the miners. The FA, which issued a statement saying “football is quite unsuitable for ladies,” further stated that a considerable portion of the earnings is spent on expenses, with an insufficient amount being given to charitable purposes.
Kerr’s went on tour to the United States, even though soccer is ‘unsuitable for females.’ As a team, they did well, beating most male teams they encountered. During their nine games, Lily Parr was called “the world’s most brilliant female player,” according to American reports.
Dick, Kerr & Co Acquired
While Kerr’s played games to aid charities after their return, without bigger venues, they couldn’t raise as much money as before the FA’s decision. And Parr kept the scoring going. English Electric eventually acquired Dick, Kerr & Co., which sacked team members, including Parr. But Alrefed Frankland wanted to continue the team and rebranded them Preston Ladies.
In the city center of Preston, Parr and Alfred Frankland opened a grocer store, and Frankland managed the newly branded team. Whittingham Hospital and Lunatic Asylum were one of Kerr’s beneficiaries. Parr’s long-term partner Mary was also working at the hospital when Lily Parr and Mary bought their first house in Preston.
Instead of hiding their relationship, as many gay people of the time were required to do, the couple was out and proud. Almost no one dared question or criticize their relationship due to their forthrightness.
The Preston Ladies have remained the strongest side in England despite the lack of support from Dick, Kerr, and Co. In 1927, they thumped Blackpool Ladies 11-2 with Parr among their scorers. Lily Parr’s reputation spread across the country as she continued to play when some of her teammates had emigrated or married and left the team.
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The World’s Best
She has been described as the “best natural timer I have ever seen.” by Bob Walker, an international footballer for Scotland.
Joan Whalley recalls that her teammate had the kick of a mule. “I knew there was no one who could lift a dead ball, the old heavy leather ball, and send it over to me from the left wing with enough force nearly to knock me out.”
With Lily Parr and a 15-year-old Whalley on the scoresheet, Preston Ladies knocked off Edinburgh Ladies 5-1 to win the first World Cup in 1937. During the celebration dinner post-match, Alfred Frankland gave an enlightening speech.
The club has played 437 matches in that time, winning 424, losing seven, and drawing six, scoring 2,863 goals with only 207 against. In the United Kingdom and abroad, we have raised more than £100,000 for charities.”
If Frankland’s estimate of fundraising is accurate, Dick, Kerr’s, Preston Ladies, and their star player Parr helped raise many millions of dollars for charity.
Her Final Game
In 1946, Lily Parr was named captain of the team after serving for 26 years and playing a limited number of games during the Second World War due to the rationing of petrol and Frankland’s roles as an Air Raid Warden.
Against Scotland, the 45-year-old scored a goal in an 11-1 victory on 12 August 1950. This was Parr’s final game and her career goals have been estimated to total over 900.
In 1967, she developed cancer after she retired from her work at the hospital and ultimately succumbed to it in 1978. This was fitting for Parr, who saw women playing on affiliated grounds made legal by the FA in 1971 after their 1921 ruling forbade it.
Lily Parr Becomes An Gay Icon
Upon her death due to breast cancer and a lifetime smoking addiction, Lily Parr has become a symbol for gay rights and women’s soccer. In honor of Parr and Dick Kerr’s ladies’ tours in the early 20th century, the Lily Parr Exhibition Trophy was played between teams from England, France, and the United States from 2007 to 2009, with participating teams from England, France, and the United States.
The enthusiasm for women’s soccer in her homeland has only grown over the past century, with over 85,000 people attending the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament finals in London 2012 and 45,423 spectators at the 2018/19 FA Cup Final. As a result, Lily Parr is regarded as the greatest female athlete of the early 20th century.
The late Lily Parr was regarded as a pioneer in women’s football and an inspiration to many communities since her death in 1978. It is the first female football player to have her statue unveiled by England’s National Football Museum in 2019. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the museum in 2002 and became the first woman to be inducted.
Facts About Lily Parr
Birthdate: 26th April 1905
Place of Birth: St Helens, UK
Nationality: British
Job Title: Footballer, Factory Worker
Partner: Mary
Died: 24th May 1978
