'Women folk' and their own pen
AAH for those politically incorrect days of yore . . .
Manchester United came up with a novel experiment to try and encourage more women to attend football matches during the Roaring Twenties - put them in their own pen!
Just a year before women were handed the vote on equal terms as men, the Football Echo carried the following report under the headline: "Women Penned In; Bunching the Women 'Specs' Together."
Accompanied by a picture of bonnet-wearing ladies, the report ran: "The novelty of this season - apart from Aston Villa's home defeat by Leicester - is the innovation at Manchester United's ground where they have penned the women in one special corner of the ground.
"Speaking with Mr Manager Bamlett on the point, we learned that the trial of the scheme was highly satisfactory, there being nearly 400 women folk clustered together in their pen.
"There have been boys' pens for some years and the same reason for cutting them off from the general crowd is brought forward in the case of the ladies, who, it is said, will not now be likely to hear some of the choice things said about referees or players who miss 'open goals' as they are called.
" 'You think it will catch on?' asked Bee.
" 'Yes,' replied Mr Bamlett 'it has come to stay. They were mostly maids, young folk, and one was glad to see them there.'
"One Liverpool lady, asked if she liked the idea and would desire it to be tried at Liverpool or Everton, said: 'No ta, that would mean I should have to pay for my own admission.'
"Which was an admission!"
Equality, it seems, was craved in only some areas.
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