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A plaque paying tribute to Dick, Kerr Ladies - one of the most successful ever women's football teams - has been unveiled at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium.

The unveiling on 22 December came three days before the 100th anniversary of the team playing their first game on Christmas Day that year.

On that historic day at Deepdale, Dick, Kerr Ladies, who were formed in a munitions factory, were watched by around 10,000 spectators. A princely sum of £600 was raised for wounded soldiers.

The 6m granite plaque was officially unveiled by Gail Newsham, who wrote a book about the team, former Everton and England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis, and Sheila Parker, who started her playing career with the Preston team and went on to become the first captain of the England team in 1972.

The granite feature sits at the Sir Tom Finney end of the ground and includes the names of all the founding players, to coincide with the team's centenary.

Gail said: “One of the players, Joan Whalley, who played after the second world war, played football with Tom Finney when they were kids.

“She’s etched on to the bottom plinth. They both played on the right wing. He was always her hero and when she was inducted into the hall of fame it was Tom that presented the award to her niece.

“There’s been lots of tears over the years, lots of highs and lows with it. But this has been the end result. For me it’s always been about those women, getting recognition for them – that’s been my driving force.

“I think because when I played football nobody was interested, then I discovered this story and it was unjust. And I’m a champion against injustice so this is what it’s all culminated in. I’m absolutely thrilled.”

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