A TROPHY special to the history of women's soccer has been presented to the National Football Museum by the son of one of the country's first women footballers.

Reg Cook, son of Alice Kell, the first ever captain of Dick, Kerr's Ladies Team, presented a cup to the museum which was awarded to his mother in 1921 to mark the team's victory over a 'Rest of Great Britain' side at Liverpool's Anfield stadium.

Dick, Kerr Ladies attracted huge crowds with more than 53,000 supporters at Goodison Park on Christmas Day 1920 seeing them beat St Helens. A few weeks later they attracted more than 35,000 to Old Trafford. A short time after this, however, the FA banned women's football as they saw it as a threat to the men's game. It wasn't rescinded until 1970.

Mark Bushell marketing manager at the museum said: "This is a superb object and is crucial in the story of Dick, Kerr Ladies and women's football."

In honour of the women's contribution to the game, a celebratory dinner will be held at The National Football Museum on Saturday, March 8.

Former members of Dick, Kerrs Ladies will be rubbing shoulders with actress Rita Tushingham and Sir Tom Finney's daughter, Barbara Herbert.

Tickets, priced £35 are available from the museum.