THIS week’s Nostalgia looks back at the trailblazing role the 1970s Prestatyn Ladies team played in the growth of women’s football.

Before 1971, organised women’s football in the UK was banned by the FA for nearly 50 years, but two sisters were not deterred, forming Prestatyn Ladies in 1969.

Mai and Eleri Griffith, from Trefiw in Conwy, started playing with a youth team in their neighbouring town of Llanrwst, having been inspired to play football by watching their older brothers.

After the family moved to Prestatyn, they set about forming Prestatyn Ladies FC with the assistance of firefighter and referee Pat Evans, who had previously run Deeside Firebelles.

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As crowds grew, and just 24 hours after the ban was lifted, they organised their first game as an official team – a 2-2 draw with Chester Ladies in front of a crowd of 700.

They soon shared Bastion Gardens with the men’s team, and by 1972, were accepted to play in the Merseyside and Wirral Football League.

Despite very much being in their infancy, they were soon challenging at the top of the league, and their players quickly gained the attention of the Welsh national team, whilst also attracting interest from more established players.

North Wales Pioneer: Prestatyn Ladies FC team of the 1970s.Prestatyn Ladies FC team of the 1970s. (Image: Grassroots North Wales)

At one point they had Welsh, English, and an Irish international in their squad.

On 17 March 1974, England played Wales, defeating the Welsh 5-0. Wales fielded at least five Prestatyn players.

In another 4-0 loss to England in 1976, the England team featured two players (Alison Leatherbarrow and Elaine Badrock) from Prestatyn, with four more in the Welsh team.

North Wales Pioneer: Prestatyn star Elaine Badrock laces up her boots. Prestatyn star Elaine Badrock laces up her boots. (Image: Grassroots North Wales)

In 1975 Prestatyn would be the first team in their league to win the treble, but in the following decades disbanded and reformed several times.

By 2009, they were known as Prestatyn Ladies & Girls, and competed in the Welsh Premier Woman’s Football League.

In 2014, they joined with Rhyl’s team to form Rhyl & Prestatyn Ladies, before ceasing to exist from 2019 due to a player shortage.