Flo Bilton
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 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Florence Bilton | ||
| Date of birth | 1921 | ||
| Place of birth | Hull, England | ||
| Date of death | 22 July 2004 (aged 82–83) | ||
| Place of death | Hull, England | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| Reckitt & Colman | |||
Florence "Flo" Bilton (1921 – 22 July 2004) was an English footballer, association football coach and administrator. Considered a pioneer of the women's game, she was an officer of the Women's Football Association (WFA) from its formation in 1969 until its incorporation into The FA in 1993.
Bilton played as a goalkeeper from the 1940s while working at the Reckitt & Colman factory.[1] She also played hockey, netball and cricket for works teams there.[2] In 1963, she put together a women's football team from the factory to play against a team from the nearby Smith & Nephew factory. Reckitt & Colman won 2–1, with Bilton playing as a veteran goalkeeper.[3] She remained as Reckitt & Colman manager and established the Hull League, serving as secretary thereof.[4] She later helped local players Carol Thomas and Gail Borman progress to the England national team.[5]
Bilton set up the Hull Women's FA in 1966, and was one of the founding members of the national WFA, established in 1969.[6] Bilton undertook a variety of unglamorous but important off-field roles during the organisation's 24-year history.[3] She borrowed an England national football team cap from her neighbour Raich Carter and made copies for England's women's national team players after the FA refused to issue official caps for them.[7][8]
