Dick, Kerr Ladies attracted 53,000 fans on Boxing Day 100 years ago. A year later, they were banned

The year is 1920. It’s Boxing Day and Goodison Park stadium in Liverpool is packed to the rafters with 53,000 supporters.

As many as 14,000 fans have been left outside, unable to get into the ground.

However, this capacity crowd is not there to see the male players of two-time First Division and 1906 FA Cup champions, Everton.

Instead, they have come to catch a glimpse of an amateur women’s team, albeit arguably the best women’s team of all time, Dick, Kerr Ladies.

Yet, despite the people voting with their feet by flocking to see them play across the world, what should be looked back on as one of the crowning glories of football instead holds bittersweet memories as that success sowed the seeds for a ban that would devastate the women’s…