Many who were sceptical as to the adaptability of women to Association Football got an eye-opener at Pittodrie last night when the famous English combination - Dick Kerr's XI from Preston - defeated a team from the recently-formed Aberdeen Ladies' Club by 6 goals to 0. Tremendous public interest was taken in the match, and while the attendance was fully 16,000, vantage points outside the park were freely taken advantage of by several thousands of people.
Although so heavily beaten - and the margin was slight compared with the defeats which the English champions have inflicted on the majority of their opponents - the Aberdeen girls gave quite a good account of themselves, especially considering the short period that has elapsed since their introduction to the game.
The advantage of experience, long association, better knowledge of the requirements, and confidence born of an unequalled record, and physique were all on the side of the winners, and in running such formidable opposition to the narrowest margin by which they have triumphed in Scotland, the Aberdeen girls are deserving of all credit for what was on their part more a plucky than a clever display. Rather one-sided, it was a case of the finished article in female footballers against an inexperienced side which showed great possibilities. While the play lacked much of the robustness associated with the game played by the supposed stronger sex, Dick Kerr?s XI reduced understanding and intimate knowledge of the technicalities of the game to such a fine art as to make the play lose little of interest in the absence of the more vigorous element. There was about their play much that could be admired, and they showed such method and understanding in defence and attack as would have done credit to other teams that usually disport themselves at Pittodrie.

PLUCKY GIRLS

The fact that it was their first appearance in public rather unnerved the Aberdeen side, and, not at all sure of themselves, they early had their confidence shaken when Haslam, the visitors' outside right, scored a surprise goal from a difficult angle. For the most part the home side were confined to the defensive, but if lacking the finish and kicking power of the visitors they never shirked their task, and raids into opponents' territory roused tremendous enthusiasm. As the game progressed what had been cynical curiosity on the part of the major portion of the crowd, turned into genuine admiration for the efforts of the players, and at times the enthusiasm was high. While many perfect passing bounce by Dick Kerr's forwards frequently nonplussed the Aberdeen defence, and Hugget in goal had repeatedly saved splendidly before Harris, the visitors' the elusive right, but the English team further on the lead. If persistence by the Aberdeen forwards brought no tangible result, there were two occasions at least one which was proved that the champions' defence was not invincible, although there could be no denying its solidity.
Lowe, on the home right, and one great burst which elicited rounds of applause, but there was more danger for the visitors when White, the clever little leader of the Aberdeen attack, flashed a shot just wide of the goal. To be in arrears of only two goals at the interval reflected crowded on the home defence, in which Wallace and Hugget were repeatedly prominent.

A SCORING FEAT

In the second period, as in the first, the winners showed that their execution was equal to their conception, and it is safe to say that while there was much individual cleverness, especially by Parr and Haslam on the extreme wings, and by Harris and Kell at inside right and right back respectively, the exhibition of accurate passing was ahead of anything seen at Pittodrie this season. There was open-eyed amazement when Parr, whose trickiness, control and centring powers and outside left had always been a feature, increased the visitors' lead with a tremendous shot from near the touch line. Harris, a wonderful trickster wound up a mystifying movement by registering a fourth goal. With the issue while in their keeping, Dick Kerr's XI gave an exhibition of shooting which, while more powerful than accurate, repealed their aptitude for what is popularly known as first-timing. A change of positions by the home left back and inside left made for improvement in the home team, and there were several occasions that fine leading out by White at centre forward had the visitors' defence in difficulties, but nothing more than fruitless corners fell to the home team. Were clever forward play by the visitors resulted in Redford scoring a fifth goal, and it was not altogether against the balance of play when the centre-half Woods beat the Aberdeen goalkeeper for the sixth time included the scoring.

MUCH TO ADMIRE

In the play of the visitors, collectively and individually, there was much to admire, particularly the exhibitions of Kell, Pomies, Haslam, Harris, and Parr. On the Aberdeen side, that is sure to improve with experience and longer association, the players that showed much promise were Hugget, Wallace, Mackay, Whyte, and Beighton.
The match was arranged by Mr. H. A. Gill, secretary of the associated bore comrades, under whose auspices the Aberdeen ladies club is run. Sir James Taggart kicked off.

After the match both teams were entertained at the supper and dance in the Bon-Accord Hotel.

RECEIPTS OF NEARLY £800.

It was officially announced by Mr. Gill, secretary of the Associated War Comrades, that the number who paid for admission to the match was 14,400, and the gross receipts amounted to £797 2s 1d, from which has to be deducted £178 9s 6 1/2d for entertainments tax, and a share to the Aberdeen FC for the use of the ground. After meeting the expenses of the visitors and the initial outlay in connection with the formation and equipping of the Aberdeen Ladies' Club, a sum of £280 would be available for the funds of the Associated War Comrades, on behalf of which the match was arranged.

Teams:

Aberdeen: Hugget; Wallace, Mackay; Petrie, Forbes, D. Low; J. Lowe, Johnstone, White, Leiper, Beighton

Dick Kerr's XI: Grice; Kell, Clayton, Pomies, Woods, Walmsley; Haslam, Harris, Redford, Willis, Parr

Referee: Peter Craigmyle, Aberdeen

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 6th September 1921

The postcard pictured with this article was donated to The Aberdeen Collection by Norman Goldie.