If the Matildas had a side in 1921, Jean Campbell would probably be their Clare Polkinghorne. A stalwart in defence, a head for leadership and the nerve to take penalties.
At just 16, she captained one of Australia’s first representative sides. The game took place at the Gabba in September 24, 1921 – 99 years ago today – in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000. North Brisbane (The Reds) versus South Brisbane (The Blues). The teams included players from three of five clubs playing in Brisbane at the time: City, Ladies and Latrobe.
Fast and skilful, Jean was selected for Captaincy following her performances during training (likely at the Brisbane Gymnasium) and across the series of practice matches leading up to that big public outing.
Newspaper reports gush of her contribution.
“Miss Campbell was the mainstay of Norths’ defence, for on almost every occasion that the opposing forwards were making tracks for her goal, she popped up through a trap door and cleared the ball.”
There’s not even an ‘as if’ in that previous sentence. Jean magically appeared and mopped up the mess. Reports of the Gabba match and those matches that took place in preparation uniformly note her awe-inspiring presence in defence and her popularity with those watching.
“She was here, there and everywhere… Whenever Miss Campbell—the crowd affectionately called her Jean—touched the ball, there was frantic cheering.”
After a handball in the penalty area, they called on her to take the spot kick, which she duly did.
“The crowd yelled, ‘Give it to Jean,’ and when Miss Campbell came forward, smiling, to take the kick, there was much cheering. Miss Campbell made no mistake about netting the ball, and she deserved the ovation which the effort evoked.”
The second half penalty made the score two-nil and secured Campbell the player of the match award. Her team were victorious on the day. Norths 2 : Souths 0.
Three weeks later in Ipswich (October 15, 1921), Campbell captained Norths and did so again at another exhibition match played in Brisbane a few weeks later.
Seen here, middle row with the ball on her lap, Jean Campbell continued to captain the dominant Brisbane City Ladies side in the run of practice and competitive matches that took place between May and August 1922. It’s harder to know how many mat
ches were played during this period. Due to the kinds of attention women’s matches attracted – their kit, their knees, general BS – those involved were coy about details on venues, teams and kick-off times.
Alongside the football, Jean was an elected member of the Queensland Ladies Football Association Executive in 1921 and 1922. She played a key role in the committee and the organisation that negotiated the Gabba match, a process that was charged with difficulty and no small amount of prejudice, and the income generated by it. The same committee determined the kit, colours and style, and navigated the much quieter season that would take place in 1922.
There were a few stars around her, including goal scoring machines Breeze (Foord?) and Molloy (Kerr?), and defensive stand out, Souths Captain Wenlock (Carpenter?), but it is Jean’s name the fans chanted. Her involvement and support was instrumental in developing the game beyond what happened on the pitch. There can be little doubt that Jean Campbell was the first superstar of the Australian women’s game.
Follow our history of Australian women’s football.
Guest contributor Lee McGowan is the co-author of Never Say Die.
