Lily Parr was a member of the women’s football team at her munitions factory during WW1 and in 1920, aged just 15, she played at Everton’s Goodison Park in front of 53,000 fans
AI experts ‘ressurect’ football hero Lily Parr
Half of Brits don’t know women’s footy was banned for 50 years, a shocking study has revealed. So AI experts have “resurrected” a hero who ‘scored more than Ronaldo’ to share her struggle.
Despite the euphoria surrounding the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory, 52% of the nation are reportedly unaware the English FA banned women from playing the sport between 1921 and 1971.
To spread awareness of the female game’s journey Three UK have harnessed AI technology to bring a hero of the pre-ban era “back to life.”
Lily Parr was a member of the women’s football team at her munitions factory during WW1 and in 1920, aged just 15, she played at Everton’s Goodison Park in front of 53,000 fans.
In 1921 the English FA banned women playing at any professional or FA-affiliated pitches, stating “the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged.”
Parr then toured the USA, playing against both female and men’s teams, and is believed to have scored at least 960 goals – 35 more than Cristiano Ronaldo [925].
As part of Three’s #WeSeeYou Network, Football TV pundit and former Chelsea star Karen Carney interviews an ‘AI version’ of the pioneer, who died in 1978 aged 73.
Advanced motion technology combined with old photos and footage revealed her facial features in high resolution.
Experts then fed AI technology information about her from archives and those who knew her – allowing its responses to reflect her personality.
They finally teamed up with an actor who performed the interview as Parr with an ultra-realistic AI face-swap added on.
It took 50 years for the FA ban to be lifted and Three have partnered with Chelsea FC Women to produce a report looking at its cultural and economic effects, now dubbed ‘The Play Gap’.
Carney said: “For many years women’s football faced challenges to be seen and celebrated, which would have given so many incredible players the opportunity to play and help grow the game.
“Legends like Lily Parr paved the way, and working with Three and the #WeSeeYou Network to bring her story to life has been an incredible experience.
“I am proud to be a part of this campaign and I hope it inspires future generations to keep pushing forward.”
Women’s football historian and Professor of Sport at the University of Wolverhampton, Jean Williams, worked with Three on the digital recreation.
Their survey of 2,000 Brits found 44% of the nation cannot name a single female footballer and almost seven in ten (69%) footie fans believe female players get less media coverage than men’s.
Almost two thirds (65%) say they aren’t promoted as role models like the males despite 63% believing the Lionesses are likely to win the World Cup before the men’s national team.
As for the financial impact of the ban, the loss to the British economy is calculated at £37.5m a year.
Dr James Reade, a professor at Reading University, and Dr Steven Brand, an economist at University of Plymouth, have valued the women’s game based on matchday, non-matchday and TV revenues.
The top division of women’s football, the Women’s Super League (WSL), was worth £48m during the 2022/23 season – a 50% increase on the previous season.
The Play Gap report predicts the WSL will be worth £85.7m in the 2024/25 season, and if women’s football had not been banned it would likely be worth £123.2m [44%] more.
Aislinn O’Connor, from Three UK & Ireland, said: “At Three, we are honoured to bring Lily Parr’s story to life using the very latest AI technology.
“By paying homage to the enormous legacy Lily has given us and laying foundations for so many sportswomen, we hope today’s launch inspires the next generation of female talent.
“Her message is as true today as it was then – we need more action to support women of all ages in sport.”
To watch Lily Parr in conversation with Karen Carney, visit Three UK’s YouTube channel.
* You can see more information on Three’s #WeSeeYou Network here.