Honoured at last: Statue of Lily Parr, the greatest female footballer of all time, is unveiled
Video report by ITV News Correspondent Damon Green
There are 110 statues of male players, according to the Football Association.
And now, finally, there is one of a female player.
A life-size bronze sculpture of Lily Parr - considered to be the greatest woman footballer of all time - has been officially unveiled at the National Football Museum in Manchester.
Parr, who died in 1978, aged 73, started her football career 100 years ago in Preston, playing professionally in the 1920s.She was the first woman to feature in the museum's Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
She scored 900 times over her 32-year career and is regarded by many as paving the way for England's Lionesses who play in the World Cup this weekend.
A 6ft tall smoker with a powerful left foot shot, Ms Parr played football at a time when it wasn't just frowned upon, it was officially banned by the authorities.
Historians say Ms Parr considered herself to be an ''ordinary lass'' who was very shy and chose to do her talking on the pitch.
Her cousin, June Patten, who unveiled the statue, said: "She was wonderful person. I'm sorry to say I never saw her play and that is a big regret.
"Otherwise, she was just 'Our Lil'. It did not register with me at the time that she was such a marvellous footballer."
Born in St Helens in 1905, Parr pioneered women's football in Preston - playing for the Dick, Kerr munitions factory team.
She was part of a side which drew thousands of spectators during, and after, the First World War.
Parr featured in the side's 1920 tour of France and playing in front of a record crowd on Boxing Day that same year, helping Dick, Kerr defeat St Helen’s Ladies in front of 53,000 fans at Goodison Park.
Historian Gail Newsham said: ''She was an icon but she didn't think so. She was just an ordinary lass, very shy and did her talking on the pitch and just got on with her life off it.''
The bronze statue, created by sculptor Hannah Stewart, has been commissioned by FA sponsors Mars as part of their #SupportHer campaign.
Tough and competitive, Ms Parr scored 108 goals in her first season with Dick, Kerr Ladies. Ms Stewart said there was something irresistible about Ms Parr: ''She could be quite an aggressive and intimidating player and she smoked cigarettes on the sidelines, and I just thought this is a woman who is confident and strong.''
Off the field, Parr trained as a nurse and worked in Preston's Whittingham psychiatric hospital.
Former England and Arsenal captain Faye White who was at the museum said: "I think it's a huge moment because it shows the focus on us and the credibility of the women's game.
"I think it's great we're looking at the history and appreciating the history to show where the game has come from and where it is getting to because in the last five years or so there has been so much more interest in the game."
Tim Desmond, chief executive of the National Football Museum, said: “As the first female inductee into our Hall of Fame, we’ve been familiar with Lily Parr’s story for many years.
"We’re of course delighted to have been given the opportunity to display her statue at the museum to coincide with the launch of the Women’s World Cup and our strategy to rebalance our collection and increase representation of women in football to 50%.”