Coalville: The First World War Women’s Team That Made Football History

The team lifted the trophy in 1918 when women’s teams participated as many men were away in the army.

“I don’t think these women are given enough credit,” said sports historian Professor Jean Williams.

“They were doing dirty, dangerous work with munitions and then they didn’t go home and rest.

“They said, ‘No, our lads are out front and we want to play charity football.’

Prof Williams said that when some national competitions were suspended during the war, the Bass Charity Vase was continued both to boost morale and raise money to support wounded soldiers returning from the battlefields .

Midlands clubs including Leicester Fosse, Derby County, Stoke City, Coventry City and Burton usually competed for the vase, but women’s sides stepped in in 1918.

After Coalville Munitions Girls lifted the trophy that year, defeating Shobnall Girls 3-1 in the final, the war was over and it was back to a men’s competition.

Prof Williams said women were effectively banned from playing football in 1921 when they were banned from Football League grounds.