They were the first women's team to play in an organised match wearing shorts.

Molly Walker was the first player to be transferred from another team to play for the Dick, Kerr Ladies, 1918.

First team to play in an international match versus French team 1920.  The game was watched by a crowd of 25,000 and played at Deepdale, the home of Preston North End.

First British women's club to embark on overseas football tour to France in 1920.  They were unbeaten during the four games they played in Paris, Rouen, Roubaix and Le Havre.  They travelled over 2000 miles and played in front of around 62,000 spectators.

In 1920 The Dick, Kerr Ladies were the first women's team to play a match at night and use a white football.  Permission was granted from Winston Churchill at the War Office, for the loan of two anti aircraft search lights to illuminate the pitch.  The game was played at Deepdale against a team made up of the best players from the rest of England.  Even they couldn't dent the might of the Dick, Kerr Ladies who still managed a 4-0 victory.

They can also boast the biggest crowd ever recorded at a women's game when a crowd of 53,000 packed into Goodison Park, Everton on Boxing Day 1920, and there were  between 10,000-14,000 locked out unable to gain admission.  There were so many people about that the players even had to have a police escort to get them safely to their changing rooms.  The team recorded yet another 4-0 victory with goals coming from Jennie Harris and a hat-trick from Alice Kell.

FA ban women's football in 1921 after almost 900,000 spectators turn out to watch them play.  The Dick, Kerr Ladies were in the fortunate position of having their own pitch to play on because the company had bought Ashton Park early in 1920.  They played on a corner of the park which became known as 'Lively Polly Corner', so named after a washing powder that was advertised on wooden hoardings all around the enclosure.

They crossed the Atlantic for another soccer tour in 1922.  The tour lasted for nine weeks, and all the games were against men's teams ... there were no women's teams in America at that time but the players were oblivious to this before they set sail from Liverpool.  The organisors were aware though and were asking for an appearance guarantee fee of 1000 dollars!   The tour results were:  played 9, won 3, drew 3 and lost 3, and  the President of the USA actually kicked off their match in Washington!

They changed their name to Preston Ladies in 1926 after some 'trouble' at the factory, but would continue to be known as the world famous Dick, Kerr Ladies even to the present day.

The team played for 'The Championship of the World'  in 1937.  Challenged for this title by Edinburgh Ladies, the best team in Scotland, the Preston team were worthy winners by 5-1.  In November of that year, they were honoured in the town at a Victory Dinner when they were presented with gold medals to commemorate their victory and celebrate the 20th anniversary of their formation.

The team can boast having the all time leading goal scorer in women's football.  Lily Parr played for the Dick, Kerr Ladies from 1920-1951 and she scored over 1000 goals during her football career.  Only the legendary Pele has scored more goals than Lily!

The first female manager of a women's football team was Kath Latham. Kath had been helping Alfred Frankland with all the secretarial duties for several years and after his death in 1957 she took on the enormous task of running the club.

The Dick, Kerr Ladies can be proud of  the fact that they have raised more money for charity than any other football team in the world.  The records state that they raised somewhere in the region of £180,000, which has been estimated today to be worth around £30 million!

Sadly, the team were forced to disbanded in 1965.

The Dick, Kerr Ladies were reunited for the first time in 1992 at the Preston Guild Lancashire Trophy.

Joan Whalley became the first British female soccer player to feature in a national advertising campaign by sportswear giant Nike in 1996.

Dick, Kerr Ladies welcome the 21st century playing in an exhibition match at The Lancashire Trophy in 2000.  Oldest player on view at 84 years of age was Nancy Thomson!

Lily Parr became the first female player to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2002.

The Dick, Kerr Ladies were VIP guests of the FA at the semi final of the Women's European Championships at Deepdale in 2005. 

Joan Whalley inducted into National Football Museum Hall of Fame, 2007.

Dick, Kerr Ladies and Preston North End juniors were guests at The National Football Museum to celebrate the history of women's football in Preston on International Women's Day, 8 March 2008.

For all the latest women's football news, fixtures and results visit http://www.fgmag.com/