Meet the Macclesfield woman who represented England as their second-ever goalkeeper
By Alex Greensmith
11th Aug 2023 | Local News
Apologies from the Editor, as we profile a glaring omission from our recent list of connections between the FIFA Women's World Cup on Macclesfield, who was perhaps the first-ever female footballer of notoriety from our town.
Meet Sue Whyatt. The grandmother and retired police officer is a familiar face around town, having spent most of her life here.
However, her name is etched into English football history. She was the 17th female footballer to be capped by England, making her debut just two years after the FA lifted a 50-year-ban on women's football.
Macclesfield Nub News had the pleasure of meeting Sue, to share her story and thoughts on the current Lionesses as England prepare to face Colombia in the quarter-finals of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
"I started playing football (obviously) after England won the 1966 FIFA World Cup", said Sue.
"We were all out on the streets of the Weston estate playing football, as boys and girls.
"My street, which was all boys, needed a goalkeeper. We all played on the road, and they wanted someone who would dive on the tarmac between two grids as goalposts. And some of those lads I'm still in touch with today."
The female footballer played for Macclesfield Ladies from 1971-1974, and was called up to the Lionesses when she was just 16.
"At school in competitive matches I was told that I couldn't play with the lads, even though I'd play with them on the playground and on the streets", added Sue.
"When I left primary school, I thought 'where am I going to play football', and that's when I heard of Macclesfield Ladies.
"So I went down for a trial, and got in. When I got there, they had just been beaten 21-0 by Manchester Corinthians, but when I got there it went down to 9-0, and they were absolutely over the moon.
"We used to get cleared off South Park [even if they had a match] because if the lads wanted to play, we had to shift.
"And while I was playing for Macclesfield Ladies, the ban on women's international football in England was lifted. Macclesfield was one of 42 teams part of the very first women's football association.
"There were trials for the national team, and me and a Macclesfield Ladies teammate of mine called Janet Clark (née Bagguley, pictured above) made the squad.
"We were both teenagers, and a lot of us also got into football because of the men's win in 1966, like how lots of girls are getting into football now after England won the Euros last year."
While she did not play in the first England women's match on November 18 1972, she watched the game from the bench. (Sue can be seen in the far right of this photo and here HERE second from left back row in photos on that day.)
But the Maxonian did make subsequent squads, and would get some gametime for England.
Whyatt made her debut for the Lionesses against Scotland on 23 June 1973. She was between the sticks for England's 8–0 win in Nuneaton.
The Maxonian came off the bench in the 64th minute to represent our town, and our country.
However, she appeared in many more squads, travelling Europe with the Lionesses.
But because she was a reserve goalkeeper, she didn't see any more playtime for England before she had to give up the sport.
"For two years I was first-reserve goalkeeper for England ", explained Sue.
"I went to every match, from Holland to France and Wales. I was there all the time, but I didn't get on the pitch because Sue Bucket [first-choice keeper] was 27 at the time, I was just 16."
Throughout the years she has followed the Lionesses as a fan, and was a crucial part of the campaign which recognised her England teammates in finally receiving their caps last year.
Sue played her part in this recognition, having shared records, penned letters, and called in to radio shows to make sure that history has been preserved.
In November 2022, Whyatt met with the current Lionesses, including fellow goalie and 2023 World Cup star Mary Earps.
Unfortunately, the FIFA Women's World Cup did not exist in Sue's day, with the inaugural tournament starting in 1991. By then, Sue was well in to her career as a police sergeant in Macclesfield, a role she held until 2008.
As well as being England's second-ever goalie, and the first Lioness from Macclesfield (later to be followed by Bollington's Izzy Christiansen), Sue also holds the title of being Cheshire's first female police doghandler.
"I joined the police in 1974," recalled Sue.
"I went on to play football for police teams. They wouldn't let me play for ladies teams, but when they were short of a goalkeeper, guess who they'd call on?
"Like with the football, I was told that a doghandler wasn't a woman's job at the time. But I went on to be the first female doghandler in the county."
Sue admitted she hid behind the sofa for England's victorious penalty shootout against Nigeria. But has confidence the Lionesses can go all the way.
"They are such a great team. They have a great sense of togetherness. They always say 'there is no I in team', and I think this England side absolutely represents that.
"And Sarina Wiegman [current England manager], her tactics, bringing people on at the right time and dealing with all the injuries has been amazing.
"Mary Earps [current England keeper] really commands her area and is a great goalie with her playmaking skills from the back, and constant vigilance for threats. She is always where she should be and a good loud shout.
Although Sue also wants the Netherlands to do well in this year's tournament, as one of her former England teammates called Jeanie Allott would later play for the Netherlands and even go on to play in a team with current England boss Sarina Wiegman. (Jeanie was also from Cheshire)
Sue remains active to this day, spending her days playing badminton and pickleball at Macclesfield Tennis Club, as well as working her two dogs.
For more connections between Macclesfield and the FIFA Women's World Cup, please click HERE.
And for those interested finding more about English footie history, England's first-ever women's international football match was a win over Scotland, thanks to a star performance by the late Sylvia Gore. And Macc's Sue Whyatt was part of the match day squad that day. You can read more about the game HERE.
And if you've been inspired by Sue's story, or the 2023 World Cup, current grassroots female football clubs in Macclesfield include Macc Town Ladies, Tytherington Juniors Girls (for children), or Bollington United FC. New members are always welcome.
See Also: Win a FREE World Cup food hamper with Macclesfield Nub News
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