History of Women Football
The history of women’s football dates back to the late 19th century when the sport was gaining popularity worldwide. Below is a brief overview of the key milestones in women’s football:
Late 19th century: Women’s football clubs and matches started emerging in England, primarily as charity events. The first recorded match took place in 1881 between teams representing the North and South of the country.
Early 20th century: The popularity of women’s football continued to grow, and by the 1920s, several women’s football clubs existed in England. However, in 1921, the Football Association (FA) banned women’s football from being played on their member’s grounds, claiming the sport was unsuitable for women.
1930s-1970s: Despite the ban imposed by the FA, women’s football continued to be played at various levels, including local and regional tournaments. During this period, the ban was also imposed by other football associations around the world.
1969: The ban imposed by the FA was finally lifted under pressure from women’s football organizations and campaigners. This led to the establishment of the Women’s Football Association (WFA) in England.
1970s-1980s: The first official Women’s International Tournament, also known as the “Mundialito,” was held in Italy in 1970. It featured teams from England, Italy, Denmark, Mexico, and Switzerland. Subsequently, women’s football gained more recognition internationally.
1991: The first Women’s World Cup was organized by FIFA and held in China. Twelve teams participated, with the United States winning the tournament. The tournament helped popularize women’s football globally.
1995: The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) organized the first Women’s European Championship, featuring eight teams. Germany emerged as the champions.
2003: The FIFA Women’s World Cup in the United States saw increased television coverage and attendance, enhancing the visibility and popularity of the sport.
2012: The inaugural season of the Women’s Super League (WSL) in England commenced, marking a significant step forward in women’s football development.
2019: The eighth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup was held in France, setting new records for viewership and generating widespread interest. The United States won their fourth title.
Today, women’s football continues to grow globally, with increasing participation, investment, and recognition. Major tournaments, professional leagues, and grassroots initiatives have contributed to the progress and development of women’s football, making it one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
n the 1920s the sport flourished with around 150 women’s teams in England.
But then the women’s game was effectively banned, with the FA at the time saying the game of football is “quite unsuitable for females”.
It was another half century until women’s football got back on its feet and a key reason it lags behind the men’s game today.
As England start their World Cup campaign in Canada, we look at some facts you may not know about the women’s game.
This woman was the Raheem Sterling of her day
Lily Parr was a winger and one of the first female professional players.
She played for the Dick Kerr’s Ladies team which got its name from the munitions factory in Preston where most of the team worked during World War One. They were the first women’s team to play wearing shorts and the first to go on an overseas tour.
Lily was also a smoker and her wages were supplemented by packets of Woodbine cigarettes.
Women’s matches pulled in enormous crowds
There was a huge growth in women’s football during the war when women were called upon to do factory jobs left by the men who had gone to fight.
On Christmas Day in 1917, 10,000 spectators watched two women’s teams playing at Preston.
And when Dick Kerr’s Ladies played St Helen’s Ladies on Boxing Day 1920 they pulled in a crowd of 53,000 at Everton’s Goodison Park ground, with thousands more fans locked outside. Everton men’s highest attendance this season (2014/15) was 39,000.
But then the women’s game was effectively banned
On 5 December 1921, the Football Association banned women from playing on FA-affiliated pitches which meant stars like Lily Parr could no longer play at grounds with spectator facilities.
The FA at the time said “the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged”.
