The three-woman show has been tackling the challenges women have faced in football, using figures from history and modern-day fictitious characters. Since taking their opening bow they have not only engaged and enlightened, but also helped rewrite history regarding Britain’s first black female player.
Using interviews with players and staff up and down Manchester City and Millwall’s ladies’ teams, director Caroline Bryant formed the ground work for the play, eventually written by Sabrina Mahfouz and Hollie McNish. “One of the first players I interviewed at Manchester City was a goalkeeper for a number of years and right at the end of her career,” Bryant explained.
“I asked her how it felt to see these younger players being paid, whereas she had done the same without financial recompense alongside a full-time job. She said: ‘That’s fine, I’m a pioneer.’ That word pioneer really pulled me in.”
Early 20th century icon Lily Parr features, as well as Emma Clarke – a black Liverpudlian playing in Scotland in the 1880s. The latter has in fact transformed since the play’s inception, having inspired research into her history – having been confused her with team-mate Carrie Boustead.
“[Playing her] has been very moving,” said Tanya-Loretta Dee. “A black footballer at that time, who was a woman – it’s nuts that that she was allowed to play in the first place. All the discovery that has come about over the last few months has been awesome.
“It’s been great to see the reactions from women’s players who have really connected with the play. We’ve cried, we’ve laughed, we’ve learned and it’s making a difference in a positive way.”
