Anne Griffith - Kilkenny’s first soccer international

Kilkenny soccer will celebrate when the FAI marks the 50th anniversary of the first women’s international team to represent the country on Friday.

Three Kilkenny players - Anne Griffith, Kay Ramsbottom and Ursula Grace - were picked for the squad for the game in Llanelli, but with Kay and Ursula unable to travel Anne was the first female player from the county to play for the Girls in Green.

The team will be feted at a function in Dublin’s Westin Hotel, while the entire panel will be acknowledged at the Late Late show later that evening.

The Kilkenny trio were part of the famed Fit Remoulds team, an offshoot from the tyre company set up by Kilkenny entrepreneurs Joe Hehir and Paddy Henderson. Remoulds were also hugely involved in the Tops of the Town talent competition and had hurling and football teams that also won acclaim.

At Fit Remoulds, Michael Walshe had a huge interest and reputation in soccer and organised a women’s soccer team. Initially they played indoor soccer, but that morphed into playing the game outdoors.

There were a number of girls’ team in the South-East, and around Kilkenny. Players like Anne Griffith, Kay Ramsbottom, Mary Walsh, Ursula Grace, Marian Kelly, Mary Langton, Teresa Byrne, Connie Jordan, Mandy Slattery backboned the Fit Remoulds team as they set out in pursuit of trophies.

In 1972 with Michael Walshe at the helm, Fit Remoulds qualified for the Ladies FAI Cup final, where they faced Dublin kingpins, Suffragettes. The Dubliners won the final 1-0, which was played in John’s Park.

Interest in the game spread and the Irish Ladies Football Association was founded in 1973 with Michael Walshe as its first chairman. The association received an invitation to play an international game away to Wales, with the Kilkenny trio catching the eye of the selectors. Kay Ramsbottom was selected at centre half-back, Ursula Grace as striker and Conahy native Anne Griffith.

The first Irish international team was selected with players from all over the 26 counties.

“It was a novelty really” said Anne, recalling the game. “We travelled by boat from Cork to Swansea. Picked up by bus, we were billeted by families in Port Talbot, just a short trip from Llanelli. The match was televised live which was novel.”

Ireland won 3-2 after a hectic battle in horrendous conditions.

Anne went on to play against France in Paris (Parc des Princes) losing 4-0, and Northern Ireland in Dublin winning 4-1. She also recalled a game against a touring France team, Stade de Reims in James’s Park.

The best women’s club side in the world, a huge crowd turned out on a balmy Sunday afternoon to watch one of the great contests in women’s football seen.

The tourists had swept all before them in Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford, but in James Park the Irish team beat them by the odd goal in three. Anne Griffith captained the Irish side with Kay Ramsbottom at centre-back. Margaret Delaney and Connie Jordan were also on the panel.

Plans to commemorate the 50th celebration of the 72/73 and ’74 teams this month are well advanced. News of the venue and actual date will be announced shortly. It will be a special night for the many great players who were involved in those halcyon days of yesteryear. It will be especially historical for the girl from Conahy who had the distinction of being the first Kilkenny girl to pull on the famous green. Her husband, Mick - a diehard Evergreen stalwart - and her three daughters will be very proud of her achievements!