A PROJECT is under way to uncover the ‘hidden history’ of women’s football - and a local side will take centre stage with archivists.

Leigh Sports Village is set to be a host venue for the 2022 UEFA Women’s European championships.

And in partnership with the Football Association, a research initiative has been launched to focus on the female pioneers of the beautiful game.

The work, for which Wigan Council will be a partner, has been awarded £500,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

One such side was South Lancashire Tramways Ladies, based in Howe Bridge, near Atherton.

Historian Alf Ridyard says the transport company, later known as Lancashire United Transport, became the first in the world to promote women’s football in 1915.

Their exploits, though relatively short-lived, predated the more famous Dick, Kerr Ladies side, in Preston, by two years.

Records detail games against a team from the Speakman and Sutcliffe factory in Leigh, with contributions collected for an injured soldiers fund.

Further matches were reported with the likes of Irlam Co-operative Soap Works, at Leigh RLFC’s then-home at Mather Lane, a one-sided contest with the more professional Dick, Kerr side, and a game against a Vulcan Foundry team, to raise money for an army field ambulance.

The history project will celebrate their 1915 games, including pen portraits of the players and memorabilia from the time.

An opportunity will also be presented to interview relatives of the original side, alongside modern-day players, in the run-up to the finals, as part of a planned documentary.

Plans are also in place for a window exhibition on local women’s football in the newly-opened archives at Leigh Town Hall. There will also be contemporary collecting events in fan zones on matchdays.

Cllr David Molyneux, Wigan Council leader, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be retelling their story and to be working with family members to capture and share this fantastic piece of history.”