For the past few seasons, Lewes has partnered with illustrator Dan Hardman to produce upcoming match posters featuring inspirational females with links to the area where the opponents are from, or just inspirational females whose story deserves to be shared. Previous examples include Greta Thunberg, Billie Jean King, Manal al-Sharif and Kate Bush.
It gives me great pleasure to exclusively share the poster for their upcoming FA Cup fourth-round match with Billericay Town which features women’s football pioneer, Pat Davies.
Davies has an important place in the history of women’s football in England. The first Women’s FA Cup final was held in May 1971 featuring Southampton Women and Scottish side Stewarton Thistle. The south coast side won 4-1 thanks to a goal from Dot Cassell and a hat-trick from Davies.
Due to the Football Association’s ban on women using any facilities affiliated to them not being lifted until two months later, the match had to be played at the National Sports Centre in London. Southampton Women then went on to win eight of the first eleven finals.
Davies also played for England – she and indeed all her fellow players and coaching staff were vital pioneers in the re-birth of women’s football. Hopefully now none of our readers are left in any doubt as to where we sought inspiration when naming our website.
The poster is also available to buy at on the Lewes website along with tickets to the game on Sunday. You can follow Daniel on Twitter and Instagram.
