There has been lots of interest surrounding Rye United’s amazing F A Vase run and their Quarter Final tie against King’s Lynn in front of over 2000 spectators. Back in 1970 it was the turn of Rye Ladies Football Club to amaze the football world. The headlines read:- RYE LADIES REACH FINAL IN INTERNATIONAL SOCCER TOURNAMENT The Rye Ladies Football Team were the shock winners in their group of the qualifying rounds for the Women’s F.A. 1970 International Tournament at Deal on Sunday 2lst June. The Rye team were considered rank outsiders in the section but put on two great displays of soccer skill, beating Deal Ladies, a team that had never lost a match previously, 1-0, and Keresley. a side from Coventry area, considered one of the best ladies teams in this country, 2-1.
Myra Smeed was the hero of the first game. scoring the winning goal in the last minute of the match. Both Rye goals in the Keresley game were scored by Barbara Wood. The finals took place at Deal on Sunday 5th July 1970 when the last 16 teams fought it out in a straight knockout competition, similar to the World Cup. To reach the Quarter Final Rye would have to beat the crack Czechoslovakian team Koh-I-Noor in a 25 minute each way tussle. Unfortunately we can find no trace of how Rye Ladies got on in the finals – Perhaps one of the girls who played for the Rye Ladies could let us know?
From April 2011 issue of Rye’s Own