WOMEN from who attended the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley before 1975 are invited to share their stories for a history project.

Ladies from rugby league 'heartland' areas are being asked to contribute their own tales for a new project that examines women’s experiences of travelling ‘down south’ for the match.

The project is being run by historian Dr Victoria Dawson, an honorary researcher at University College London.

Leigh famously triumphed beneath the Twin Towers in 1971 against Leeds to win rugby league's most famous trophy.

Victoria said: “We hope to interview women who travelled from the north of England to Wembley before 1975.

“We want to know about the whole Wembley experience, what made them decide to go, what the journey was like and what they felt when they got there.

“We’re especially looking for women who went to London for the very first time to go to the final, or who travelled to London by train.”

While much has been written about Wembley finals and players’ experiences, female fans’ experiences in particular have not been so documented.

“The Challenge Cup Final is a hugely important fixture in the rugby league calendar,” added Victoria.

Leigh Journal:

A woman supporter cheers on Wigan at Wembley, 1948 Photo: © Rugby Football League Archive, University of Huddersfield

“We know from video footage and photographs that women went to Wembley in their thousands, many hand making scarves, rosettes and other items to show their team colours. A trip to Wembley was a special occasion for many women.

“In conducting this research, we want to, for the first time, document women’s experiences of the Wembley trip and shed light on wider question of the place of the sport in the leisure lives of women since 1945.

“Perhaps you only went once, or you went every year regardless of which teams made the final. Even if you think you have nothing to tell us, please get in touch as your experiences are valuable.

“In the end, your words will feed into our research, and they might even end up in an exhibition at the new National Rugby League Museum when it opens in a few years’ time.”

  • Anyone who would like to contribute, or want more information, is asked to please visit the project's website: wembleywomen.wordpress.com , or contact Victoria by emailing Victoria.Dawson@ucl.ac.uk or call or text Victoria on 07902 596116.