Commemorating the End of 'The History Makers Exhibition'

For the final Women’s Football Focus Series, we wanted to commemorate the end of our amazing ‘The History Makers’ Exhibition by showcasing objects from this exhibition. When I first joined the museum in October 2022, this was the first project I helped work on, and I was excited to work on this exhibition as it celebrates 50 years of the Scottish Women’s Football Association.

In 1971, European member associations voted 39-1 in favour of UEFA’s motion to take control of women’s football. However, Scotland voted against this motion. Unphased by the Scottish F.A., the women’s six teams: Aberdeen Prima Donnas, Cambuslang Hooverettes, Dundee Strikers, Edinburgh Dynamos, Westthorton United, and Stewarton Thistle, formed their organisation in 1972; the Scottish Women’s Football Association (S.W.F.A.). This is a Scottish Women’s Association Football Shirt.

This booklet is the “Scottish Women’s Football Association Constitution and Rules, Established 1972 as Amended 1981.” 

This exhibition also commemorated 50 years since the first women’s international. The 1972 Scotland v. England game was the first official international women’s match to be played in Great Britain. This game took place on the 18th of November at Ravenscraig Stadium, Greenock.  This match was played at Ravenscraig Stadium because the Scottish Football Association (S.F.A.) banned women from playing at Scottish F.A.-affiliated grounds or using Scottish F.A. registered referees. Since 1921, the Scottish F.A. had withdrawn support from women’s football and banned the game in 1949, and it was not until 1974 that the ban was lifted, and the Scottish F.A. only assumed responsibility in 1998. This is a Daily Record poster for “The First Ever Ladies International, Scotland v. England.”

The conditions during this match were far from ideal, as the pitch was frozen, and in the second half of the game, it snowed heavily. This game attracted 400 spectators. Scotland took the lead with Mary Corr and Rose Reilly scoring 2-0. However, during the second half, England managed to fight back, with Sylvia Gore scoring twice and Pat Davies once. This plaque commemorates this game.

This is a programme from an International friendly game between Scotland and England, which took place on the 15th of May 2022 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first official international women’s game.

Rose Reilly is another trailblazer in women’s football. She began her career playing for Stewarton Thistle and was in the 1972 Scotland team. She went on to play for clubs such as Reims, A.F.C. Milan, Lecce, Catania and Trani. This pennant features an image of Rose Reilly.

Although Reilly had earned ten caps for Scotland, in 1975, she received a lifetime ban from the Scottish Women’s Football Association. During the 1978-79 season, she won championship titles in Italy and France. Reilly won the Serie A Golden Boot twice during seasons 1978 and 1981, scoring 43 and 45 goals. In 1984, Reilly captained the Italian side, which won the Mundialito (precursor to the World Cup). She was voted best player in the Italian team and scored one of the goals in the 3-1 victory over West Germany in the final. Reilly retired at the age of 40, having won eight Serie Eight titles, a French title and four Italian cups. 

Margaret McAuley Rae is another trailblazer who played in the 1972 game and was Scotland’s first women’s captain. She played for various teams including; Westthorn United, Hooverettes and played for Scotland over 20 times. These plaques are from McAuley’s successful career.

Before the Scotland v. Jamaica Women's Friendly Game on the 28th of May 2019, several Scottish players from the First Women’s International Game in 1972 were finally presented with caps to mark the occasion. These are photographs of the 1972 Scottish Women’s Team being given their caps.

Working on the Women’s Football Focus Series has been one of my favourite projects to create as I have developed my knowledge of women’s football and have learnt about pioneers and trailblazers in women’s football. This blog series has showcased the amazing objects and stories we have in our museum collection. I finish as a Collection Assistant at the end of October and feel incredibly grateful that I was able to work on the History Makers Exhibition and this blog series as it celebrates women’s football and showcases their fantastic careers and achievements.

By Robyn McCready.