Local historian Lionel Bird has recently been undertaking research on the story of women's football in Coventry.
Using resources at the Coventry History Centre, situated within the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Lionel has traced the story of Frederick Selman, who was to become a pioneer of the women's football world.
Since many of Coventry's car factories played a key role in this story, we thought that readers of the Coventry Transport Museum blog would be interested to read Lionel's fascinating account:
The outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 provided
the catalyst for the emergence of women's football in Coventry. The
city's huge industrial manufacturing base was adapted to produce vital
munitions as part of the war effort. Thousands of men bravely joined up
to fight, creating a massive shortage of skilled labour. The men were
replaced by women workers who became known as "Munitionettes".
They worked long hours in difficult conditions to produce munitions and
shell cases. They had to endure food shortages, discrimination by some
male workers and a serious lack of suitable living accommodation. But
they got the job done.
It was during these difficult times that women's football
prospered in Coventry. Ladies factory teams were formed at companies such as
Rudge-Whitworth, Humber, White & Poppe, Coventry Ordnance, Coventry Chain
and Daimler. Matches were played regularly between 1917 and 1918 to raise
money for Coventry's wounded military personnel. On the pitch, the women
footballers enjoyed themselves which must have been a pleasant change from the
harsh conditions of factory life. They were complimented on the quality
of their play and some women continued playing after the war had ended.
In 1921 Frederick Selman, a labourer employed at Sterling
Metals in Foleshill, formed Coventry City Ladies Football Club. He became
trainer and chairman. Some of the players he recruited had links to the
Humber Ladies team. He must have been inspired by the exploits of the
world famous Dick Kerr's Ladies from Preston, who had just appeared at
Highfield Road in a match against Saint Helen's Ladies, in front of 27,000
people. Coventry City Ladies would later play Dick Kerr's Ladies and
Stoke-on-Trent Ladies. Although they lost both matches, they did not disgrace
themselves. Frederick was a Coventry City supporter and had a long
association with the Saint John's Ambulance Brigade, who regularly volunteered
their services for home matches.
Coventry Ladies' Football Club - 1921. Picture used courtesy of www.donmouth.co.uk. |
Frederick was born in Twerton, Somerset, in 1890. He
joined the Fifth Dragoon Guards and was based at Woolwich Barracks in 1911.
He volunteered for action in August 1914. He was subsequently wounded and
honourably discharged in September 1915. In 1921 he resided at
Corporation Cottages in Radford. On 5 December that year the Football
Association sensationally banned women's football on League grounds, citing
potential health problems as the reason. Frederick attended a meeting in
Blackburn twelve days later where he proposed the formation of the English
Ladies Football Association. He was elected a vice-president of that
organisation. A national cup competition was introduced and he attempted
to form a Coventry Women's League. Unfortunately, this failed, probably
due to insufficient finance and lack of support.
Frederick Selman died in Blackpool in 1952 whilst on
holiday. He was a keen dancer and apparently collapsed on the dance floor
of the Tower Ballroom. The ban on women's football was lifted in 1971 and
the game today, prospers both locally and nationally. I think Frederick
would be immensely proud of the current success experienced by Coventry City
Ladies Football Club.
LIONEL BIRD
COVENTRY CITY F.C. HISTORIAN.
Lionel undertook much of his research for this article at the Coventry History Centre - the city's ultimate historical resource for local historians, those tracing their family history and much more.
Lionel undertook much of his research for this article at the Coventry History Centre - the city's ultimate historical resource for local historians, those tracing their family history and much more.