The her-story of Women’s Football in Maidstone (so far…) Part 2

Women’s football was banned for nearly 50 years by the FA between 1921 and 1970, an often-told story, especially in recent years with the success of the Lionesses and their back to back Euro victories that have helped bring new eyes to the sport, and you may not be surprised to hear that the town of Maidstone had its own part to play during the wilderness years.

The popularity of Women’s football grew during WW1, a large number of the male footballers were battling on the continent, after hostilities had ended, the often quoted name of Dick Kerr Ladies and their match at Goodison Park occurred on Boxing Day 1920 which saw upwards of between 40 and 50’000 spectators with thousands more turned away. The following year, it has been reported that every major town in the country had a women’s team, their success was seen as a threat to the men’s game, especially as demand grew for a governing body and professional status.

This is when the infamous ban would come from the FA, forcing women’s football underground and turning it into a novelty act; a 1923 game in aid of Maidstone Ophthalmic Hospital, watched by 3,000, matched a Women’s XI against male Old Crocks who were not allowed to run, had to lie down for set pieces, and had no goalkeeper. But women’s teams did not disappear. This picture from 1934 shows three women attending a training session before a match at a fete in Maidstone on Whit Monday of that year.

When the FA finally recognised women’s football in 1970, Maidstone was one of the first towns to seize the initiative. Three men started up the Mote United club (later Maidstone Ladies), Bill Reynolds, Roy Sidebotham and Derek Baker got together a team that played in green and white stripes, and included in their ranks Bill’s daughters Jean and Pam, Roy’s daughter Lynn, and Derek’s daughter Jane, whose brother Phil trained to be the town’s first specialist referee for women’s games.

After acquiring Luton’s John Ryan as president, it commanded the Kent Women’s League crown, including one match that they won 25-0; the club was at such a level as to play an annual friendly with Spurs Ladies (the invite is still open Martin Ho…).

Maidstone being a hotbed of the 1970s growth in women’s football, the Athletic Ground hosted what was likely the first visit by a German team – the runners up in the inaugural West German championship, Eintracht Erle, pictured during their 1973 trip.

By 1980, it was the only women’s club in the country to boast three teams, and the following year, played in the first ever televised women’s match, at Norwich City.

In 1990, by which time it was known as Maidstone United Ladies, control of the club passed to new management. By then, it had fielded more England senior internationals than the men’s club had in its entire history. It was fitting therefore that the town would be represented in the Women’s Premier League when it was inaugurated in 1991-92, a year before the men’s top flight made a similar move. That club was Maidstone Tigresses, founded in 1986 as a breakaway from Maidstone Ladies. It had already counted among its strikers the same Karen Farley who would score two goals for England against Nigeria in a 1995 World Cup group game.

Now, playing under the presidency of future England men’s manager Terry Venables, they finished in fifth position, and reached a FA Women’s Cup semi final. Though the club survived the demise of its parent club and returned to London Road as guests of Maidstone Invicta, it folded in 1995 after the FA took over women’s football and teams affiliated to the big clubs began their domination.

At this point, Maidstone’s Women, like the Men, had a long journey back to the county town and regular football, but as we will see next time, the future is looking very bright for the current crop and the very recent past has been a great indicator of said bright future.