The Amazing Susan Ferries

For this week’s Women’s Football Focus Series, we are highlighting the successful footballer Susan Ferries. She was a star player for Stewarton Thistle in the 1960s and 70s and played in the early Scottish and F.A. Cups. Ferries was born in 1944 and sadly died in 2016 at age 71. Ferries was the daughter of Auchinleck Talbot footballer Bill Ferries. From an early age, she was interested in football and played kickabouts with the boys in Kilmarnock’s Riccarton Park. When she was 17, she began working in the town’s Saxone Shoe Factory. Football was Ferries’ main passion, and in 1960 she bought a second-hand pair of football boots which she wore throughout her career.

Ferries first made her debut with Stewarton Thistle in 1961 against Holyrood Bumblebees for a charity match for the famine in Ethiopia. The game ended in a 7-1 victory for Thistle. Elsie Cook, who also played in this game, said they won largely due to Ferries, as she scored all 7 goals. It was with Stewarton Thistle that Ferries had a successful career, and by 1963, she attracted the attention of the press.

In 1969, Ferries played with Stewarton Thistle against Westthorn United for the regional final of the Butlin’s Cup, but unfortunately, they lost. This is the Butlin’s Cup, which Ferries won and is available to view in our Museum.

The Butlin’s Cup was organised by Hughie Green, a stage star and television talent show presenter who became involved with women’s football. During the 1967 talent show run, the idea for a women’s football tournament came about. This idea was developed into an event which involved regional competitions hosted by Butlins holiday chain resort, with the final in London. The first Butlin’s Cup was played in 1969, and the Heads of Ayr Resort hosted the Scottish competition.

In the same year, Ferries was part of the unofficial Scotland XI team, which played Manchester Corinthians at Stewarton’s Strandhead Park. Ferries played a central role in Stewarton’s golden era, playing in the inaugural Scottish Cup Competition. Thistle played in the Scottish Cup Final on the 18th of April 1971 against Aberdeen Prima Donnas at Dundee’s Riverside Park. Thistle won the cup, beating their opponents 4-2. This is a painting of Edna Neillis and Susan Ferries, which is available to see in our Museum.

A couple of weeks later, Stewarton Thistle played for the Mitre Cup, the forerunner to today’s F.A. Cup. Ferries was a star player, and although they suffered an early 5-2 defeat to Manchester Corinthians, they won 9-2 to Nuneaton Wanderers. Thistle reached the final on the 8th of May 1971 and were the runners-up against Southampton. This 1971 W.F.A. Challenge Trophy was given to Ferries.

Come see this trophy when you visit our Museum and learn about other female football pioneers like Ferries. This final became involved in controversy as Southampton were found guilty of misrepresentation and fined £25 at a Women’s Football Association tribunal but were allowed to keep the trophy.

Thistle met the same opponents a few months later in the final of the Deal International Competitions (today’s equivalent of the Champions League). The two teams were tied 0-0 in extra time, but Margaret McAuley Rae’s goal ensured Thistle’s win. The team later won a Charity Shield, which rounded off a treble season. Elsie Cook, who coached Stewarton Thistle, recalls that Ferries was one of the reasons the team was so successful.

Stewarton Thistle changed their name to ‘Stewarton Lees’ and made it again to the 1972 final of the Mitre Cup, where they played against their previous opponents, Southampton. Ferries managed to score when they were 3-1 down, but sadly, Stewarton lost 3-2. This trophy, ‘The Women’s Football Association Runners-Up Trophy,’ was awarded to Ferries after this game.