Lily Parr - Playing Style

Playing Style

Get me to the hospital as quick as you can, she's gone and broken me flamin' arm!

–Attributed to an unnamed professional Football League goalkeeper who blocked one of Parr's shots

At almost six feet tall, Parr's strength was said to be one of her greatest assets. She was particularly noted for the power of her kicking, both in delivering from the left flank and shooting at goal. Team mate Joan Whalley later wrote: "She had a kick like a mule. She was the only person I knew who could lift a dead ball, the old heavy leather ball, from the left wing over to me on the right and nearly knock me out with the force of the shot..."

The programme from a September 1923 fixture between Dick, Kerr's Ladies and Stoke described Parr as "Big, fast and powerful, is tricky and can take corner kicks better than most men." It also noted that Parr "scores goals from extraordinary angles with a left foot cross drive, which nearly breaks the net."

Aggression was another feature of Parr's play. During Dick, Kerr's Ladies' 1922 tour to the USA, the Washington Post reported that "Miss Lily Parr, at outside left, put up an aggressive game registering two goals in seven tries she had at the net" following a 4–4 draw with Washington's top male club. In April 1921 Parr and Hilda Durbar of Stoke United were sent off for fighting in Dick, Kerr Ladies' fractious 2–0 win before 13,000 fans at The Old Recreation Ground. Parr was also praised for her overall technique and vision. Contemporary Scotland international footballer Bobby Walker described her as the "best natural timer of a football I have ever seen."

Lily Parr Exhibition Trophy

On 11 February 2007, Camden LGBT Forum approached the London Lesbian Kickabouts team with a view to setting up a lesbian football event for Camden LGBT History month To honour the only woman in the FA Hall of Fame ( before they banned women from playing football on their grounds in 1921) the Lily Parr Exhibition Trophy was born and the Kickabouts played the Paris team Arc en Ciel (Rainbow)& re-enacted the first match between the Dick Kerr Ladies and the Paris ladies team. The London Lesbian Kickabouts won 7–3. The event was named the Lily Parr Exhibition Trophy' and special commemorative medals were struck.

On 9 February 2008, the 2nd Lily Parr Exhibition Trophy match (again sponsored by Camden LGBT Forum) took place between LLKA and Paris Arc en Ciel at the Hub in Regent's Park, London. LLKA won 4-1 with their goals being scored by Christelle Quiniou (2), Gill Rimmer and Kim Bourke. Their captain was Sib Trigg. The trophy was presented by comedienne Rhona Cameron and historian Barbara Jacobs, author of The Dick, Kerr's Ladies.

The 2009 Lily Parr Exhibition Trophy took place at the Hub Regent's Park, London, as part of Camden LGBT History month again, on Sun 15th Feb after a meet the team event at the Black Cap on 14th Feb. The game featured Arc on Ciel from Paris, the London Lesbian Kickabouts and Valley Fire from the USA in honour of the 1922 Dick, Kerr Ladies tour. This was the last Lily Parr Exhibition Trophy to be staged as part of Camden LGBT History month.