Have you been involved in women’s football in Milton Keynes and the surrounding local area? Or perhaps been a referee or coach for local teams? Are you a huge fan and have kept all your ticket stubs and match day programmes?
As a host city of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 tournament, the MK’s heritage partners are undertaking a project to document the history of local women’s football, funded in part by Milton Keynes Council and, thanks to National Lottery players, the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Museum, along with its partner Living Archive Milton Keynes, has already captured some amazing stories and photographs, but the Museum is keen to expand its collection.
The project team has interviewed former Chiltern Valley Ladies players from the 1960s and 1970s, some of whom travelled to Mexico in 1971 to play in an unofficial Women’s World Cup as an England team.
The Museum has also met former players for MK Wanderers and Aylesbury Ladies, and current recreational players for MK United. Objects from a former player of MK Girls and Newport Pagnell have been collected, including a football shirt, trophies and a team photograph.
A wealth of information on enterprising young local teams in the 1930s has also been unearthed, including Stony Stratford who were nicknamed ‘The Canaries’.
We think there’s an important history of women’s football in the area and we would like to more comprehensively understand and represent the story of teams and clubs that have existed locally. Medals, football kits, programmes, match tickets, trophies – all would be considered for collecting.
“As the host of three group matches and a semi-final, Stadium MK, the Station Square fan party and city overall were buzzing with excitement. We want people to come forward so our Museum can capture our women’s football history, as well as this event, for future generations.”