The appeal is part of a Lancashire Archives and Local History project to preserve the history of Burnley Football Club and its women's teams.

An appeal has been launched for photographs, memorabilia and stories celebrating the history of women's football in Burnley, with plans for two exhibitions next year.

Clarets Collected, a Lancashire Archives and Local History project dedicated to preserving the history of Burnley Football Club, is hoping to uncover records of women's and girls' teams dating back more than 60 years.

Organisers are particularly interested in photographs, programmes, newspaper cuttings and other memorabilia relating to Burnley FC Ladies and Women's teams from the 1960s through to the 1990s and early 2000s.

These include the Burnley FC Ladies team established in 1988 by former Clarets player Peter Devine and Kerry Lakin, and the girls' and ladies' teams formed in 1995.

However, the appeal extends beyond the Clarets, with organisers keen to hear from anyone who played for or was involved with other women's football teams across Burnley and the surrounding area during the 20th century.

The project is also hoping to shed more light on visits to East Lancashire by the famous Dick, Kerr Ladies, one of the pioneering teams in the history of women's football.

The team played matches at Turf Moor and grounds in Padiham, Nelson, Colne and elsewhere in the area between the 1920s and 1950s.

Of particular interest is the story of Burnley-born Alice Hargreaves, who joined Dick, Kerr Ladies at the age of 17 in 1948.

Alice lived at Primitive Terrace in Burnley as a schoolgirl and later moved to Major Street in Crawshawbooth.

In 1953, she married H.C. Barnes, whose father lived in End Street, Colne, and it is believed she subsequently moved to Blackpool.

Organisers are hoping someone may have photographs, records or personal memories that could help piece together more of her life and footballing career.

Material collected through the appeal will help preserve an important part of the town's sporting heritage and could feature in two exhibitions planned for 2027.

The first, provisionally titled The History of Women's Football in Burnley, is being considered for Burnley Central Library, while a second exhibition is planned for Towneley Hall as part of Burnley's Year of Culture celebrations next summer.

Former players, coaches, managers, volunteers and anyone with photographs, documents or other memorabilia relating to local women's football are encouraged to get in touch.

Anyone who can help, including those with information about Dick, Kerr Ladies or Alice Hargreaves, should email [email protected].

Meanwhile, the current Clarets Collected exhibition, One of Our Own, celebrating footballers who came from Burnley and surrounding towns and villages, remains on display at Burnley Central Library.

The free exhibition can be visited in the downstairs Local Studies Library throughout the remainder of 2026 and into early 2027.