The World Record Football Match
Floodlit in 1923: 7 Years BEFORE Men
Hey’s Brewery Bradford Ladies FC + Dick Kerr Ladies
Part 2

Introduction

In Part 1 I gave an overview of the key ‘illuminated’ football matches up to the English FA ban in August 1930. I have written extensively about the two English FA Bans against women footballers so it was interesting to come across an even more unknown ban. The reasons are explored in this article. The grainy picture above from the South Bank Express shows the Dick Kerr Ladies (black/white stripes) and Hey’s Brewery Bradford Ladies (white tops) milling around in a snowstorm. This is the 1923  World Record game with state of the art technology where ‘a newspaper could be read in the centre of the pitch’. Extremely detailed descriptions of the groundbreaking technology used in this women’s game can be found in Part 1 – to read click HERE 

1955 –  Floodlight A Fiasco in Britain

“Diehard Bodies”

In a lengthy and passionate article respected football writer Brian Glanville talks about the famous 1951 game between Arsenal and Hapoel of Tel Aviv ushering a new era of night football. One strong argument for floodlit football was that thousands of working people (mostly men) would be able to attend the games. Glanville compared the success of floodlit football in South America with the lack of success in countries such as England and Italy. This was due to indifference and antipathy by the authorities and poor choice of games. He referred to: “In Britain, at least, floodlight football has been a failure, a handful of worthwhile games, interspersed by a string of second and third rate matches which produce correspondingly tiny crowds.” The French come in for praise: “In France, international matches have been played under floodlights in Paris, and floodlit friendly games are the fashion. But just look at how carefully and intelligently they are arranged. The French make sure that a floodlit game will be an attractive game. When they switch on the lights it is for such teams as Honved, Arsenal, and the crack South American Sides.” He finishes: “Yet if full advantage is to be taken of the floodlights, diehard bodies such as the English Football League must wake up to the fact that permission for floodlit games in the major competitions cannot come soon enough.”

1931 – 20,000 Watch Barking Town v Ilford

“Heaven Help Goalkeepers on a Night Like This!”

It is worth noting that less than one year previously the English FA had banned floodlit football. Specifically they had stated: “… club members are prohibited from taking part in such games.” The game was played in a Festival at Barking Park and was to raise money for King George’s Hospital in Barking. The Daily Mirror described the game as a ‘great success’, which was true in that a lot of money was raised. However, shortly after the start of the game a dense fog descended on the pitch leading to the Daily Herald making the comment about goalkeepers quoted above. The fog did lift but the journalist had this to say. “One became more and more convinced that football is a game to be played in the daytime, and that footballers are out of their element. This, I am certain, will be the verdict of the public, should the experiment with floodlight football be persevered with.” The Daily news was similarly unimpressed. “Groping to the station, in a dense fog, through the roundabouts and sideshows of the park, I came to the definite conclusion that if floodlight soccer matches have to be played they should find sanctuary at a properly organised ground.” This would turn out to be a prophetic comment, eventually. The Daily News also confirmed that Barking Officials had obtained the permission from ‘headquarters’ via the Essex County Football Association. This is interesting. There were powerful changes taking place which appear to have been forcing the English FA’s hand.

The Greyhound Racing Phenomenon

Alternatives to Football for the ‘Working Man’

Searching the British Newspaper Archive for the term “Greyhound Racing” reveals 278 hits in 1926. The same search in 1927 reveals 15,536 hits. A ‘craze’ was starting which continued well into the post WW2 years. There are many factors which influenced and propelled this craze, several of which were technological. On 6 January 1927 the Daily Herald ran a headline: “Electric Hares for London – Course at Finsbury Park to be Opened in May.” The article went on: “The new kind of coursing, of which it is not alleged by “sportsmen” that the hare “enjoys” it – for the hare is lifeless and runs by electricity – is coming to London. Not to Wembley, as was recently rumoured, but to the vicinity of Finsbury Park, where the Greyhound Racing Association, encouraged by their success at Manchester, have acquired 20 acres of land. A grandstand, kennels, and other fixtures are to be ready for coursing to begin in May. To make the sport as popular as possible, the association intends to hold some of the events in the evening.”

The Southwark and Bermondsey Reporter reported a week later that London was to have two greyhound tracks: “In addition to the track being prepared at Finsbury Park by the syndicate which introduced the sport to Manchester, a British syndicate, headed by Col. Harry Day, M.P. is negotiating for part of a derelict exhibition ground “within four miles of Charing Cross” – presumably the old white city. ‘We want to acquire an area which will accommodate 100,000 people,’ Colonel Day stated on Friday.

Greyhound Racing – Vast Sums of Money

August 1927 – 50,000 at First Meeting

The commemorative programme for the last meeting at Wembley Stadium in 1998 referenced the start of Greyhound Racing at Wembley. The stadium itself, built for the Great Exhibition, was a white elephant in danger of being demolished until Arthur Elvin (later Sir Arthur) realised the potential of introducing greyhound racing. This investment paid off handsomely with a reported 50,000 at the first meeting in August 1927.

The graphic above from the BNA is based on the search term “Greyhound Racing”. Particularly startling is the jump of 24 hits from 1910-1919 to 46,770 hits in the next decade, 1920-1929.

When we focus on the same search for 1920s the evidence is even more startling. In 1925 there are 5 hits for the search term “Greyhound Racing”, in 1926 there are 278 hits and in 1927 there are 15,536 hits. This is a phenomenal increase.

The Westminster Gazette reported in December 1927 that the measures taken to combat the frost at Wembley Stadium had been so successful that racing was “practically assured” to take place at the next meeting despite the weather. Greyhound Racing therefore had a big advantage over football as a winter sport in that it was largely impervious to the weather.

** By the mid-1930s there were reputed to be over 40 Greyhound Stadia in London alone **

The Speedway Phenomenon

Alternatives to Football for the ‘Working Man’

Developing along similar lines to the greyhound racing ‘craze’ was the speedway craze. Again, using the fabulous British Newspaper Archive and this time searching for “Speedway” we get the following hits:

The 1910s have 832 hits which rises to 14,335 in the 1920s and 71,162 in the 1930s.

In 1927 there are 259 hits, which rise to 2,986 in 1928 and 10,295 in 1929. Two massive ‘sporting crazes’ are taking over the country in the late 1920s, greyhound racing and speedway and together with the advances in floodlight technology they are beginning to threaten the traditional professional Saturday daylight football game.

Multi-Use Stadia

Women’s Football Taking Advantage

One of the silliest claims that I have heard in a long time is the idea that ‘women’s football took place in parks and in private’ after ‘the’ 1921 English FA Ban. Quite apart from the lack of understanding of the importance of the (never repealed) 1902 English FA Ban and the effects of the Victorian era attitudes to the role of working class women and their physiology, particularly in reference to impact sports, there is an assumption (erroneous) that the only stadia in the country were football stadia controlled by the English FA. During the 1930s, from 1932 to 1939, French football legend Carmen Pomies played in or brokered over 68 ‘internationals’ involving tours of French and Belgium teams playing mostly against the Dick Kerr Ladies representing ‘England’.* These games attracted large crowds and were played in rugby, cricket, speedway, greyhound and non-affiliated football stadia. Women’s football did not disappear from 1921 to 1971 despite the best efforts of the numerous barriers and modern journalists to airbrush their achievements from history.

*1932 + 1936 – 3 games against ‘Ireland’; 1933 – 1 game against Terry’s Chocolate Ladies FC of York

Femina Sport v Dick Kerr Ladies at West Ham Stadium

Dick Kerr Ladies 2 v 1 France led by Carmen Pomies at West Ham Stadium

This was one of Lizzy Ashcroft’s last matches for the Dick Kerr Ladies in 1935 and it was filmed by Pathe News.This was Lizzy’s 13th year of playing for the Dick Kerr Ladies and she had taken over the captaincy from her great friend Lily Parr, who was taking a two year break from football. (Lily was a very talented cricket player and hockey player and I have written about this.) Lizzy had broken into the team in 1923 (together with stalwarts and friends Lydia Ackers and Susie Chorley) after their St Helens Ladies FC had thrashed Lily and the Dick Kerr Ladies 5 v 1. Lizzy’s final year, 1935, had started in April with Lizzy leading only the second ever tour to France. A strong French national side led by the legendary Madeleine ‘Mado’ Bracquemond beat them 6 v 2 in Paris and 2 v 1 in Rouen. After defeating the ‘Rest of Lancs’ Ladies 6 v 1 in Salford and the Darlington Quaker Girls 3 v 1 in Darlington (Crowd 7,000) the Dick Kerr Ladies travelled down to London to meet Carmen Pomies as she brought a French team over for a 6 game tour. Lizzy Ashcroft then finished her magnificent career with a 2 v 0 win in front of a crowd of 5,000 at Liverpool Breck Park greyhound stadium, a 2 v 1 win in front of a crowd of 6,000 at Pontypool and a 5 v 2 win in front of a crowd of 1,500 at Barrow-in-Furness Rugby Club.

It is worth noting that two of these games were played at greyhound/ speedway stadia.

1932 October 29 – “F.A. MAY LIFT THE BAN ON NIGHT SOCCER”

“So Called Floodlight Football”

The article above appeared on Saturday 29 October 1932 and the English FA appeared to have been ‘bounced’ into this decision by a combination of the London Clubs, the threat from other sports and the Daily Mirror. A reminder of ‘the ban’ wording from 25 August 1930:

Attention having been drawn to the fact that the playing of artificial matches under artificial light is being organised the Council express their opinion that the playing of matches under such conditions is undesirable, and that club members of the Association are prohibited from taking part in such games.

Sir Frederick was quoted in the article revealing the ‘real’ reason behind the ban: “When the recommendation was made and approved by the Council, the playing of matches under artificial light was being organised by those who were not connected with Association Football.” He went on to specify greyhound racing tracks owners proposing to organise football matches between English and foreign teams. The article felt that these words would be encouraging to Spurs and Watford in their efforts to give the public “soccer by night.”

It is interesting to note that Sir Frederick referred to “so-called floodlight football”, perhaps revealing his own personal antipathy to any kind of change. He was by this point 74 years of age and would retire less than two years later, accepting a Directorship of Arsenal in August 1934.

Role of the Daily Mirror

Prior to their ‘exclusive’ with Sir Frederick Wall on Saturday 29 October 1932 had been three previous articles on the topic of floodlighting. Here is a precis of the main points of the three articles:

“WHY NOT SOCCER BY NIGHT?” (Wednesday 26 October)

• Ambitious greyhound plans at White City, Shepherds Bush
• Football ‘gates’ hit by greyhound racing
• 1930 Arsenal v Rangers at Wembley banned
• 1931 – 20,000 see Barking v Ilford

“£100,000 GROUND IMPROVEMENTS – Big Grandstand to be Built at Stamford Bridge Track – NEW DOG TRACK” (Wednesday 26 October)

• Greyhound racing syndicate acquire Stamford Bridge
• £100,000 to be spent on ground
• Stamford Bridge has been a dreary place on a rainy day!

“STIRRING CALL FOR SOCCER BY FLOODLIGHT – Spurs’ Director’s Challenge to Greyhound Racing – ARSENAL’S HELP” (Friday 28 October)

• Spurs call conference of London Clubs to discuss night football
• Arsenal fully support Spurs
• Greyhound racing ‘encroaching’ on Saturday afternoons
• Talk of a professional football London night league

The pressure being brought to bear on the FA to reconsider its position on floodlit football was immense.

1932 November – The Highbury Experiment

Arsenal 3 v 0 Racing Club de Paris – Wednesday 30 November 1932

It is interesting to note that this game was played at Highbury so shortly after all the fuss of lifting the ban. Racing Club de Paris were flown in for some glamour and the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News judged the game a success. However, not everyone was convinced and the famous footballer, journalist and commentator Charles Buchan castigated the game in an article entitled: “FLOODLIGHT FOOTBALL TEST PROVES A FAILURE.” His main points were that despite 22 flood-lamps (11 on each side)  erected thirty feet above the ground on 30 ft poles with adjustable mirrors and anti-glare lamps the conditions were not conducive to a decent football game. The argument that better technology would be used in a real situation led to the headline that the cost would be up to £2,000 per game which would preclude all but the richest clubs.

The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News carried a similar photograph a few weeks later of a Rugby League game under floodlight at the White City Stadium in Shepherds Bush.

Tribute to Alfred Frankland

Alfred Frankland was the legendary manager and ‘svengali’ of the Dick Kerr Ladies from their formation in December 1917 to his death in 1957, steering the most successful women’s football team ever through 40 of their 48 years. This was an astonishing achievement. His ability to adapt and innovate is one of the key reasons why the club was able to survive for so long. One of his great innovations was to almost single-handedly bring about a quality floodlit game 9 years earlier using better technology than that used at Highbury in 1932, with Highbury having Sir Frederick Wall as one of their Directors. Amazing.

1933 Wednesday 4 January

Whites (Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, West Ham) 3 v 0 Reds (Watford + Rest)

The above game took place only 5 weeks after the ‘Highbury experiment’. This was obviously the London Clubs and the FA trying to take control and direct a situation which was in danger of spiralling out of their control. 9,300 spectators watched was adjudged to be a successful experiment. Sir Frederick Wall was at the game and afterwards was quoted in the Daily Mirror:

If there is a desire on the part of the clubs in the F.A. to take up floodlit football there would be no opposition from my council.” He then went on to say: “I am agreeably surprised. I was able to follow every movement of the game. If there is any criticism to make, it is that it was sometimes necessary to shade the eyes. Our original attitude against the playing of night-time football was taken up because we refused to allow outside concerns to exploit the game for their private gain. With our clubs wishing to play, it is an entirely different matter.

 

Conclusion to Part 2

So, floodlight football in 1933 was set to be successful, at least in the London area? Well, no is the answer. The next game of any note that I have found so far is in a few lines mentioning West Ham losing 3 v 1 to Dutch side Utrecht in a floodlit game four years later in 1937, played not in England but  in Utrecht. The next significant floodlit game in this country took place 18 years later in 1951 at Highbury when Arsenal thrashed Hapoel of Tel Aviv by 6 v 1. Brian Glanville jumped the gun with the premature headline: “Floodlight Football Well and Truly Launched.” The post WW2 saga of floodlight football will be continued in Part 3.

 

Author’s Note

This is obviously very personal for me. My granny Lizzy Ashcroft played for all of her career under English FA Bans because of her gender. Despite this she took part in the groundbreaking, world record 1923 floodlit game with her great friends and football legends Alice Kell, Jenny Harris (playing for Hey’s), Lily Parr, Lydia Ackers, Susie Chorley, Lucy Bromage, Ivy ‘Tiny’ Emmerson and a host of others. It has been fun writing this series of articles. I found two other minor connections. Whilst at University College London I not only played for the University Team but I also played for the University ‘Old Boys’ Team, the Academicals or ‘Accies’. I fondly remember playing against Brian Glanville’s friendly team. We had to donate our centre half as they were short of players and his only remark was that he had never played with fullbacks named Tarquin and Quentin before, he didn’t “come from that sort of background.” I also (not so fondly) remember paying out the princely sum of 50p from my pocket money aged about 10 to become a ‘life member’ of the Charles Buchan’s Boys Club. I can’t recall many advantages from being in that club for the last 50 years. Football doesn’t always give back what we invest in it.

Alice Kell should be in the ‘Hall of Fame’

Article Copyright of Steve Bolton