Looking at events in history and re-imagining what could have happened.
Research something in history. Could be sporting events, political, natural history, royal, industrial, agricultural, space travel, architecture, engineering feats, artistic achievements, writers & novels, craft, religious, heritage, social injustice, an underrepresented event. As long as it remains in the āreal worldā - everything created must be realistic, it must be something that might have actually happened. i.e. no alien invasions or catastrophic events leading to a dystopia of sorts.
Make a believable alternative.
Write a 500 word account of what would have happened in your own twist on history, which includes details from your research.
Alternative History - Dick, Kerrās FC 1917
At the height of the first world war, any man capable of playing football was conscripted to serve in the British army. Meanwhile, the Victorian values of a womanās role was crumbling, and when women started to work in the munitions factories, they also began to be invited to join the remaining men's kick-arounds outside working hours. The Dick, Kerrās Football Club officially formed in 1917 at a munitions factory in Preston, Lancashire. Over 10,000 people attended their first match against Arundel Coulthard, who they beat 4ā0 on Christmas Day. The teams donated the Ā£200 profit (Ā£41,000 today) to a local hospital.
"Dick, Kerr's 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 gameā read a report in The Daily Post. āTheir forward work, indeed, was often surprisingly good, one or two of the ladies showing quite admirable ball control.ā
An activity that was previously considered āunsuitable for the delicate female frameā was now encouraged for good health, well-being and morale. Dick, Kerr's grew in popularity as they continued to play in charity fixtures against similar teams around the country and raised money for injured servicemen.
Alfred Frankland (their manager) believed that his team was good enough to represent England against a French national team, in matches to be played on behalf of the National Association of Discharged and Disabled Soldiers and Sailors. A crowd of 25,000 people turned up to the home ground of Preston North End to see the first unofficial international between England and France. England won the game 2-0 with Florrie Redford and Jennie Harris scoring the goals. The team subsequently began touring France in 1920, regularly playing in front of crowds over 14,000.
On 26th December, 1920, St Helens Ladies to raise money for the Unemployed Ex Servicemenās Distress Fund in Liverpool. Over 53,000 people watched the game with an estimated 14,000 disappointed fans locked outside. It was the largest crowd that had ever watched a woman's game in England. This game raised Ā£3,115 (Ā£623,000 in today's money). Two weeks later the Dick Kerr Ladies played a game at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, in order to raise money for ex-servicemen in Manchester. Over 35,000 people watched the game and Ā£1,962 (Ā£392,000) was raised for charity.
They were unstoppable, and more often than not, drew in crowds far more impressive than any menās football team.
Embarrassed by this fact, in 1921 The FA attempted to ban football clubs from allowing the use of their grounds to womenās football matches. They issued a statement, allegedly responding to ācomplaintsā in regards to the wellbeing of female footballers, maintaining how the sport was unsuitable for their bodies. The public response to this was pure outrage - not only in support for womenās suffrage but for the exciting football that was attracting thousands. No longer were football fans interested in the men! These women had gained a reputation for their impressive display of skills, no better than the professionalism of Dick Kerrās FC.
Perhaps the return of the working man, too busy making ends meet to put food on the table in a post-war climate, meant Menās football clubs failed to catch up with the booming success of teams like Dick Kerrās, nor could they stir the same level of support and excitement. It wasnāt until the 70s when menās football started picking up momentum- almost 50 years behind, what was now considered mainstream, the Womenās Football Association. A century on from their formation, Dick Kerrās FC continue to be the pinnacle of British football.
*On 5th December 1921, the Football Association issued the following statement:
Complaints having been made as to football being played by women, the Council feel impelled to express their strong opinion that the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged. Complaints have been made as to the conditions under which some of these matches have been arranged and played, and the appropriation of the receipts to other than Charitable objects. 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.ā
