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Women's Football - then and now
then ....
The person most often credited with the introduction of women's football in England is Nettie Honeyball the first secretary of the English Ladies. In 1895 she organised a women's match between the North and South of England. Not surprisingly the North won 7-1
The event was described as follows by "Lady Correspondent" of the Manchester Guardian. Quote:
"Their costumes came in for a good deal of attention.... one or two added short skirts over their knicker-bockers....When the novelty has worn off, I do not think women's football will attract the crowds.
There does seem to be some slight difference of opinion about exactly what the ladies wore.
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An artists impression of the English Ladies first game.
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An artists impression of the football kit described by the Lady Correspondent.
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The novelty did wear off mainly because, in 1902, the Football Association issued a warning to its members not to play matches against lady teams.
In 1917 women working at Dick Kerr's munitions factory (now GEC) in Preston, formed a football team to raise money for charities. They played their early matches on waste ground near the factory gates.
By 1920 they were playing in front of large crowds at Football League grounds. By 1921 there were about 150 women's teams in England.
This did not stop the Football Association, once again, reminding its members that football was unsuitable for women and should not be encouraged, Dick Kerr's Ladies responded by touring Europe, Canada and America.
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1918 - Dick Kerr's Factory Team
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Llanelly Women's Football Club
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Teams such as these endured constant ridicule from male players, most male fans and the press.
Their kit certainly looks more appropriate than the English Ladies.
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1946
When football resumed after the war the FA reminded member clubs yet again...."not to loan their grounds or provide facilities for irregular football by women participants".
For the next twenty years women's football teams were banished to the realm of local games. In 1965 Dick Kerr's team, of First World War fame, finally disbanded after having played over 800 games.
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and Now ....
England's triumph in the 1966 World Cup meant the country went "football mad". Women's football benefited and there was a resurgence which resulted, in 1969, in the formation of a Women's Football Association. In 1972 the FA lifted their 1902 ban on women's football so acknowledging their right to play
Englands first official International was against Scotland at Greenock in November 1972. England won 3 - 2
In 1992 The Doncaster Belles took the first National League title after beating 11 sets of opponents in rapid succession.
Since 1993 women's and girls' Football has been under the direct administration of the FA and, most importantly has its own Women's Football Co-ordinator.
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1991- 92
The Women's National League was launched. This was akin to William McGregor's achievement in 1888 when he founded the Football League - it just took a little longer!
The first League Champions were the Doncaster Belles with 11 straight victories.
Women's football now has its own competitions and trophies.
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1993
Women's and girls' Football came under the direct administration of the FA and, most importantly, now has its own Women's Football Co-ordinator.
It is almost a 100 years since Nettie Honeyball organised the first women's football match - but only seven years since the FA welcomed women into their fold.
The FA Women's Premier League Cup.
The Premier League consists of three divisions, National, Southern and Northern. The structure provides for relegation and promotion. The Champions of the Premier League are awarded the cup.
The face of women's football today. Players from Arsenal Ladies battle it out with Liverpool Ladies. 27 April 1997.
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The FA Women's Cup
This a knock-out competition played much along the lines of the FA Cup.
National Leagues Divisions 1 and 2 join in the second round with the National Premier League entering the fourth round.
In 1998 - 99 Arsenal LFC win the FA Women's Cup for the third time since it began in 1994
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The Future...The Facts (according to the Football Association)
- There are currently 30 million female players world-wide
- This figure is predicted to rise to 100 million in the next 10 years
- That means as many women will be playing football by 2010 as men
- 650,000 spectators attended the recent Women's World Cup in America with television coverage in 70 countries.
- The Final drew a crowd of 90,000 and a TV audience of one billion.
Netball Beware !!
The FA intends to make women's football the top female sport in England by 2005 and the next step forward is on the drawing board - a professional league within three years.
On the development front, there are now 1.200 girls' teams nationwide and 31 Centres of Excellence linked to men's clubs. More and more girl's and women's leagues are being established.
The modern athletic footballer. She is demonstrating her skills using a high tech football, dressed in high tech football kit, is dedicated to the game and is match fit.
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