As a recognised historian and author of 'In a League of Their Own!', I am available as a public speaker with my extremely well received presentation about the history of the Dick, Kerr Ladies.   A 35 minute powerpoint presentation will reveal rare archive material and bring to life some of the original pioneers of women's football.(for bookings visit http://www.womenspeakers.co.uk/ )

I truly believe it was my destiny to write about these formidable women and when I was researching their history, I always felt as though I was being guided by 'someone'.  I really do believe that the ladies chose me to be the one to tell their story because they knew I would love them, take care of them and do everything in my power to ensure they received the recognition they so richly deserve.

I grew up in Preston just a stones throw from the Dick, Kerr factory, and I was always aware of this legendary women's football team.  As a young lass growing up in the late 1950's, early 1960's, I was always out playing football with the lads and as the only girl in either team I can remember hearing comments from passers by suggesting that perhaps I should be playing for the Dick, Kerr Ladies.

Eventually I did play football for a ladies team, Preston Rangers, but I had still to come across anyone from the Dick, Kerr Ladies era. However, a chance meeting with former player Brenda Eastwood, in 1991 gave me the idea of staging a reunion of the team as part of the International Women's Football Tournament I used to organise, The Preston Guild Lancashire Trophy in 1992. 

Through meeting Brenda, I got in touch with Joan Burke and Frances Appleby who showed me some photographs and old newspaper clippings from the 1940's.  I was absolutely gobsmacked at the amount of press coverage they had received and I soon came to realise that this story was bigger than  many people could ever have imagined, and if something hadn't been done quickly their story could have been lost forever.  So began many years of research regarding the team.

I am extremely proud of the fact that due to my persistence and beliefs, The Dick, Kerr Ladies were reunited for the first time in 1992 as part of my football tournament during the Preston Guild celebrations.  And the Dick, Kerr Ladies actually presented me with a trophy as a special momento of their reunion!  I was later nomiated for the Lancashire Woman of the Year award in recognition of my bringing the team back together and I was selected as one of the 100 women who were guests at the award ceremony.

Determined to achieve the belated recognition I believe these remarkable women rightfully deserve, both collectively as a team, and individually for their own personal achievements, it is my life long ambition to spread the word about the Dick, Kerr Ladies to a wider audience.  I sincerely believe these women should become household names ... just like our other sporting heroines such as Paula Radcliffe and Kelly Holmes.  

It was thanks to my efforts that Lily Parr became the first woman ever to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2002, and in November of 2007, another player, Joan Whalley, school girl pal of the legendary Sir Tom Finney, became only the second player from the team to receive this posthumous honour.

My presentation entitled,  PRIDE OF PRESTON - THE DICK, KERR LADIES FOOTBALL TEAM - 1917-1965, is an inspirational account of women in a man's world, and demonstrates the true leadership and teamwork qualities that were essential for them to achieve their unparalleled success.  For further details visit http://www.womenspeakers.co.uk/

Previous Clients include:

Emanuel College, Cambridge University   (keynote speaker)

Burnley Football Club – Burnley Women’s Refuge (after dinner)

National Football Museum (after dinner)

Lowry Conference Centre – NHS conference (keynote speaker)

University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) (keynote speaker)

University of Manchester – UMIST (keynote speaker)

National Football Museum/Fulwood Methodist Church (fundraising)

Ingol Youth and Community Centre (historical interest)

UCLan – 1^st Women’s Football Conference. (keynote speaker)

South Ribble Borough Council (Mayoral Civic Banquet)

UCLan – Mitchell & Kenyon Cinema (keynote speaker) 

Television/Radio Appearances: 

Up Front - Granada TV

Revealing Secrets – Channel 4

First Sex Documentary - Channel 4

Gloria Hunniford’s Open House – Channel 5

Nation on Film – BBC 2   BBC 4

Hairnets to Goalnets – Radio 4

Woman’s Hour – Radio 4

I am also frequently interviewed on local radio and television as an 'expert' on the history of women's football.