[2] Batt was in his sixties and working as a bus driver when he started Chiltern Valley Ladies FC in Luton with his wife, June, in 1969.
[1][2][3][4][5][6] The Batts believed woman's professional soccer was achievable in the UK, although from 1921 to 1970, men's teams were banned from allowing women footballers to use their facilities, which made fundraising from gate fees impossible.
[1] He became the manager of the British Independents, an unofficial UK team consisting of players he scouted who played in the unsanctioned first Women's World Cup in Mexico City in August 1971.
[1][2][6][7] On return, for participation in unsanctioned international competition Batt and his wife were blacklisted by the Women's Football Association (WFA), which had been preparing to form an official England national team but had declined the invitation to the Mexico World Cup.
[2] A blue plaque unveiled in September 2023 at the recreation ground in Crawley Green where Chiltern Valley Ladies played honours them, the British Independents, and Harry and June Batt.