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South Wales Argus
10-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Meet Morag ‘Maggie' Pearce: A women's footballing icon
Growing up, Morag 'Maggie' Pearce's daughters did not even realise their mother had played football, but the trailblazing icon has plenty of stories to tell. With women's football rapidly growing in visibility, the pioneering side Pearce was part of in 1972 received their England caps in front of a sold-out Wembley in 2022. This summer, White Stuff are refocusing the limelight on the foremothers of women's football in their latest heartfelt campaign as they celebrate the women who paved the way. Southampton-born Pearce is one such figure, having played right-back for Southampton Women F.C. and England, winning five FA Cups during her career, though being in the spotlight has not always come naturally. 'It's great for us to be recognised by White Stuff and having that media attention. I get quite surprised sometimes because I'm not one to go walking around [telling everyone],' she said. 'My daughters didn't even realise [I played for England] for a little while because it was one of those things I packed up in the loft. 'I played football, I did that, had the family, retired and whacked it all up in the loft. But as time has gone on, it's a great feeling to know that we were part of that and being recognised for it.' And while it took time for her daughters to discover her pioneering ways, football has always been about family for Pearce. Her younger sister, Heather Kirkland, played alongside Pearce at Southampton and claimed four FA Cup winners medals of her own. 'She was following in my footsteps. She came into Southampton later on but the sister side of things has always been great,' reflected Pearce. 'It had been said that we couldn't have two sisters playing together. But it was quite nice because at one stage, she was on the left side and I was on the right side. It was a miracle that we did play together. 'Our family always supported us and it was always nice going home to discover we had won and our brothers hadn't. We always had that competitive edge in the family.' (Image: White Stuff) Pearce's talent, and that competitive edge, carried her all the way to international level as she debuted for England at just 15 years old. She would go on to play 41 times for her country, including at the first-ever European Championships in 1984 when England reached the final, narrowly losing to Sweden on penalties after a two-legged final. Her contribution paved the way for the conditions and support England's women now benefit from at European Championships of their own. 'It's proud to know that we were part of that journey for them, we started it and the legacy of it all. It's great to see them having all that media around them,' said Pearce. 'We didn't have anything like that and we made our own camaraderie. We didn't have that time together, we were lucky if we got a weekend together. It would just be back to family life and back to your jobs. But today it is great to see everything going on for them.'
South Wales Argus
10-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
England pioneer Pat Davies remembers career of remarkable firsts
Pat Davies' football career is full of remarkable firsts. The Netley-born striker was part of the first-ever England women's team in 1972 and scored a hat-trick in the first-ever FA Cup Final. Davies scored eight goals in eight appearances for England during a remarkable career during which she won six FA Cup titles. But despite such success, Davies still faced challenges along with moments to savour. 'My debut for Southampton at 12 was very special because it was played in my local village at Royal Victoria Hospital in front of friends and family,' she recalled. 'Scoring a hat-trick in the first-ever FA Cup final at Crystal Palace [was another key memory]. 'But I remember very poor pitches, no facilities and just a cold water tap. There were no toilets, we were getting cleaned in duck ponds and whatever we could to just get by.' (Image: White Stuff) Despite the conditions, however, Davies' talent was clear after impressing for Southampton Women F.C., she was soon trialling for the England women's squad. 'After the trials we got a letter in the post. I remember standing in the window waiting for the postman everyday before it dropped on the mat,' she said. 'The four of us from Southampton all got in so it was even more special. We were all part of the first team which was absolutely fantastic. So special.' With women's football rapidly growing in visibility, the pioneering side they received their England caps in front of a sold-out Wembley in 2022. This summer, White Stuff are refocusing the limelight on the foremothers of women's football in their latest heartfelt campaign as they celebrate the women who paved the way. For Davies, it is those memories of wearing the Three Lions on her shirt that remain some of the best. In fact, 50 years on, the prolific striker can still think of no better feeling than scoring for England. 'It was absolutely fantastic [to play for England]. It was always so special to pull the shirt on and the national anthems always brought a tear to my eye,' she said. 'To actually score a goal was just the best feeling in the world. It couldn't get any better than that. I was over the moon, you just feel like you're on a different planet.' Davies' contribution in scoring those goals and washing in duck ponds just to play has paved the way for the legends of today to follow in their footsteps. The importance of her legacy and that of her teammates is abundantly clear, and with the recognition White Stuff and others are giving, the players are beginning to believe that themselves. 'It's nice to receive the recognition of what we did achieve. It makes us feel like what we did, did actually mean something,' she said. 'It makes you feel happy and proud and think, 'yeah, we started it, we were the first.'' On a mission to champion independent spirits, White Stuff is known for putting real people of all ages and backgrounds at the heart of their brand. Their latest campaign celebrates the groundbreaking journey of England's trailblazing 1972 women's football team, with the aim of inspiring the next generation:
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Former Lioness whose daughters 'did not know she played football' celebrated
Morag 'Maggie' Pearce played right-back for Southampton Women F.C. and England, winning five FA Cups during her career, though being in the spotlight has not always come naturally. Growing up, Morag 'Maggie' Pearce's daughters did not even realise their mother had played football, but the trailblazing icon has plenty of stories to tell. With women's football rapidly growing in visibility, the pioneering side Pearce was part of in 1972 received their England caps in front of a sold-out Wembley in 2022. This summer, White Stuff are refocusing the limelight on the foremothers of women's football in their latest heartfelt campaign as they celebrate the women who paved the way. Southampton -born Pearce is one such figure, having played right-back for Southampton Women F.C. and England, winning five FA Cups during her career, though being in the spotlight has not always come naturally. 'It's great for us to be recognised by White Stuff and having that media attention. I get quite surprised sometimes because I'm not one to go walking around [telling everyone],' she said. 'My daughters didn't even realise [I played for England] for a little while because it was one of those things I packed up in the loft. 'I played football, I did that, had the family, retired and whacked it all up in the loft. But as time has gone on, it's a great feeling to know that we were part of that and being recognised for it.' And while it took time for her daughters to discover her pioneering ways, football has always been about family for Pearce. Her younger sister, Heather Kirkland, played alongside Pearce at Southampton and claimed four FA Cup winners medals of her own. 'She was following in my footsteps. She came into Southampton later on but the sister side of things has always been great,' reflected Pearce. 'It had been said that we couldn't have two sisters playing together. But it was quite nice because at one stage, she was on the left side and I was on the right side. It was a miracle that we did play together. 'Our family always supported us and it was always nice going home to discover we had won and our brothers hadn't. We always had that competitive edge in the family.' Pearce's talent, and that competitive edge, carried her all the way to international level as she debuted for England at just 15 years old. She would go on to play 41 times for her country, including at the first-ever European Championships in 1984 when England reached the final, narrowly losing to Sweden on penalties after a two-legged final. Her contribution paved the way for the conditions and support England's women now benefit from at European Championships of their own. 'I am proud to know that we were part of that journey for them, we started it and the legacy of it all. It's great to see them having all that media around them,' said Pearce. 'We didn't have anything like that and we made our own camaraderie. We didn't have that time together, we were lucky if we got a weekend together. It would just be back to family life and back to your jobs. But today it is great to see everything going on for them.' On a mission to champion independent spirits, White Stuff is known for putting real people of all ages and backgrounds at the heart of their brand. Their latest campaign celebrates the groundbreaking journey of England's trailblazing 1972 women's football team, with the aim of inspiring the next generation:
The Herald Scotland
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Meet Morag ‘Maggie' Pearce: A women's footballing icon
With women's football rapidly growing in visibility, the pioneering side Pearce was part of in 1972 received their England caps in front of a sold-out Wembley in 2022. This summer, White Stuff are refocusing the limelight on the foremothers of women's football in their latest heartfelt campaign as they celebrate the women who paved the way. Southampton-born Pearce is one such figure, having played right-back for Southampton Women F.C. and England, winning five FA Cups during her career, though being in the spotlight has not always come naturally. 'It's great for us to be recognised by White Stuff and having that media attention. I get quite surprised sometimes because I'm not one to go walking around [telling everyone],' she said. 'My daughters didn't even realise [I played for England] for a little while because it was one of those things I packed up in the loft. 'I played football, I did that, had the family, retired and whacked it all up in the loft. But as time has gone on, it's a great feeling to know that we were part of that and being recognised for it.' And while it took time for her daughters to discover her pioneering ways, football has always been about family for Pearce. Her younger sister, Heather Kirkland, played alongside Pearce at Southampton and claimed four FA Cup winners medals of her own. 'She was following in my footsteps. She came into Southampton later on but the sister side of things has always been great,' reflected Pearce. 'It had been said that we couldn't have two sisters playing together. But it was quite nice because at one stage, she was on the left side and I was on the right side. It was a miracle that we did play together. 'Our family always supported us and it was always nice going home to discover we had won and our brothers hadn't. We always had that competitive edge in the family.' (Image: White Stuff) Pearce's talent, and that competitive edge, carried her all the way to international level as she debuted for England at just 15 years old. She would go on to play 41 times for her country, including at the first-ever European Championships in 1984 when England reached the final, narrowly losing to Sweden on penalties after a two-legged final. Her contribution paved the way for the conditions and support England's women now benefit from at European Championships of their own. 'It's proud to know that we were part of that journey for them, we started it and the legacy of it all. It's great to see them having all that media around them,' said Pearce. 'We didn't have anything like that and we made our own camaraderie. We didn't have that time together, we were lucky if we got a weekend together. It would just be back to family life and back to your jobs. But today it is great to see everything going on for them.'
The Herald Scotland
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
England pioneer Pat Davies remembers career of remarkable firsts
The Netley-born striker was part of the first-ever England women's team in 1972 and scored a hat-trick in the first-ever FA Cup Final. Davies scored eight goals in eight appearances for England during a remarkable career during which she won six FA Cup titles. But despite such success, Davies still faced challenges along with moments to savour. 'My debut for Southampton at 12 was very special because it was played in my local village at Royal Victoria Hospital in front of friends and family,' she recalled. 'Scoring a hat-trick in the first-ever FA Cup final at Crystal Palace [was another key memory]. 'But I remember very poor pitches, no facilities and just a cold water tap. There were no toilets, we were getting cleaned in duck ponds and whatever we could to just get by.' (Image: White Stuff) Despite the conditions, however, Davies' talent was clear after impressing for Southampton Women F.C., she was soon trialling for the England women's squad. 'After the trials we got a letter in the post. I remember standing in the window waiting for the postman everyday before it dropped on the mat,' she said. 'The four of us from Southampton all got in so it was even more special. We were all part of the first team which was absolutely fantastic. So special.' With women's football rapidly growing in visibility, the pioneering side they received their England caps in front of a sold-out Wembley in 2022. This summer, White Stuff are refocusing the limelight on the foremothers of women's football in their latest heartfelt campaign as they celebrate the women who paved the way. For Davies, it is those memories of wearing the Three Lions on her shirt that remain some of the best. In fact, 50 years on, the prolific striker can still think of no better feeling than scoring for England. 'It was absolutely fantastic [to play for England]. It was always so special to pull the shirt on and the national anthems always brought a tear to my eye,' she said. 'To actually score a goal was just the best feeling in the world. It couldn't get any better than that. I was over the moon, you just feel like you're on a different planet.' Davies' contribution in scoring those goals and washing in duck ponds just to play has paved the way for the legends of today to follow in their footsteps. The importance of her legacy and that of her teammates is abundantly clear, and with the recognition White Stuff and others are giving, the players are beginning to believe that themselves. 'It's nice to receive the recognition of what we did achieve. It makes us feel like what we did, did actually mean something,' she said. 'It makes you feel happy and proud and think, 'yeah, we started it, we were the first.'' On a mission to champion independent spirits, White Stuff is known for putting real people of all ages and backgrounds at the heart of their brand. Their latest campaign celebrates the groundbreaking journey of England's trailblazing 1972 women's football team, with the aim of inspiring the next generation:
