IT was an emotional and joyous occasion when a women’s football team were reunited for the first time in more than 40 years.

Members of the 1970s White Arrows squad held a reunion at Barrow’s Red River Club, where they reminisced about old times and shared stories and jokes.

The club were formed in 1972 and were managed by the late John Holmes, who passed away in July 2015.

First known as Formula Furness, the team became Waterloo White Arrows and then just The White Arrows and competed in the North West Lancs League between 1972 and 1977.

They played against local rivals Barrow Ladies, plus the likes of Preston North End, Preston Dolphins, Bronte Ladies, Lyve Wires, from Swarthmoor, Wharton, Rossendale, Lancaster University, Blackpool Sea Birds, Whitewell (Rawtenstall) and ICI Thornton.

Some White Arrows have hardly seen each other since the club disbanded in 1977, and John Holmes’ widow Joyce was keen to arrange a reunion to coincide with what would have been his 75th birthday.

The Red River was an obvious choice for the venue as one of the White Arrows players Mavis Lakeland, runs the Flass Lane club.

Joyce’s efforts met with a great response as 10 of the original team were in attendance, along with Brenda Greenwood, who played in goal for local rivals Barrow Ladies, but did appear once or twice for the White Arrows.

The White Arrows players present were: Christine Hetherington (goalkeeper), Mary Nelson (left back), Doreen Edmondson (nee Jesson, right-back), Mavis Lakeland (nee Lancaster, centre-half), Margaret Brown (nee Rock, defence), Vivian Hartley (left-half), Yvonne Clark (midfield), Joyce Holmes (captain, inside-right/left/central defender), Glynis Turner (nee Lightfoot, left wing), Vanessa McLeod (centre forward).

There was lots of memorabilia on show, including old photos, Evening Mail clippings, trophies, the original club rule book and minutes from team meetings.

After enjoying pie and peas, players also tucked into a couple of football-themed cakes which Joyce had made.

All the players were given White Arrows jersey to keep as mementos, and as the conversation flowed there was even talk of the team making a comeback in the now popular sport of walking football.

The ladies made time to remember the team’s late manager John.

His name was written on a special banner, and Joyce made an emotional speech thanking her old team-mates for attending, and saying how proud he would have been of them all.

Joyce was accompanied by many of her family and friends including Julie Nelson – sister of left-back Mary Nelson – who, in her role as family babysitter, had allowed her and John to go to away matches.

The ladies also enjoyed the company of Sheila Parker, a former Preston North End player who was captain of the England Ladies team back in 1972.

The former international had her photos taken with two potential stars of the future – Joyce Holmes’ grand-daughters and twin sisters Kira and Kianna Boswell

Kira plays for Blackburn Rovers under-14s and Kianna is a member of the Preston North End under-14s ladies squad.