In 1920, Dick, Kerr Ladies defeated a French side 2–0 in front of 25,000 people, a match that went down in history as the first international women's association football game.

The team faced strong opposition by The Football Association (FA), who banned the women from using fields and stadiums controlled by FA-affiliated clubs for 50 years (the rule was repealed in 1971).

was founded in Preston, Lancashire, England as a World War I-era works team for the company Dick, Kerr & Co.

After beating the men of the factory in an informal game, the women of Dick, Kerr formed a team, under the management of office worker, Alfred Frankland.

The Daily Post wrote, "Dick, Kerr were not long in showing that they suffered less than their opponents from stage fright, and they had a better all-round understanding of the game.

The French team was composed of players from several Parisian football clubs[5] and led by the great patron of women's sport in France, Alice Milliat.

[9] The team were featured regularly in the Pathé newsreels of the day and players like Lily Parr and Alice Woods became an appealing draw at British football grounds.

The Council are further of the opinion that an excessive proportion of the receipts are absorbed in expenses and an inadequate percentage devoted to charitable objects.

For these reasons the Council requests the Clubs belonging to the Association refuse the use of their grounds for such matches.The FA ban stayed in place for fifty years – finally being rescinded in 1971 – and ultimately became a major setback for the women's game in England.

The Washington Post reported on 23 September 1922, "The Dick, Kerr's team of English women soccer football players arrived today on the steamship Montclare en route to the United States where they will play a series of games.

Some of the opposing teams included immigrants who had previously played in the British football league, plus at least one American who would go on to represent the U.S. at the 1930 World Cup finals.

[15] The team's club colours were black and white striped jerseys with a small Union Jack on the left breast and blue shorts.

[20] Our Girls Our Game is a play based on the story of Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C., written by Victoria Saxton and directed by Charlotte Westenra for British Youth Musical Theatre in 2021.

Famous and Forgotten is a play based on the story of Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C., written by playwright Andrew Colley.

In 2004 the play won the 'Naked Talent' playwriting competition at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, and it has been widely performed by amateur and professional groups in the UK and abroad.

[23] Not a Game for Girls, a play written by Benjamin Peel, was first performed by Matthew Wignall's Off the Rock Productions company at Friargate Theatre, York, in June 2017, directed by Alison Young.

[citation needed] 'Quite Unfit For Females' was performed by About Time Dance Company as part of the 2021 Lancashire Encounter Festival.