MATCH OF THE DAMES

'First Lionesses' in earliest clip of women's football from 1917

- BY ANDY LINES

Sterling Ladies, of East London, were undefeated in the 1917-18 and 1918-19 seasons Sterling's mascot kicks off a match

The footage lasts just 29 seconds but shows the forerunners of today's Lionesses - a women's football team so good that they were nicknamed The Invincibles.

The extraordinary clip of Sterling Ladies has been confirmed as the very first footage of a female game and, according to historian Steve Bolton, it was played during the First World War.

"This does have real historic significance," he said. "We knew that film footage existed but, finally, after years of research I've managed to establish which games are which and can categorically confirm the September 1, 1917 footage is the oldest known to exist.

"And we now know for a fact who the two teams were, the score and the venue.

"The Sterling Ladies really were the first team of female sports media super stars. It's 100 years before the Lionesses became the nation's great heroes.

"But history has forgotten them. It's time their contribution to the war efforts and our country's national sport should be recognised.

"It really is an astonishing and unique snapshot of life in WW1 and the incredible role women played.

"The Sterlings shone briefly, but ever so brightly. We should remember them."