Who Run The World? The Story of Women's Football

Women’s sport, particularly Football, has grown immensely and is beginning to receive the respect it deserves. Though some may believe that it is in the shadow of men’s sport, this wasn’t always the case…

IMAGE | Gail Newsham

From the 1860’s women’s football began to emerge and gain an audience. It continued to grow past the turn of the century but boomed in 1917 when came along Dick Kerr Ladies AFC.

Founded at a Preston munitions factory, Dick Kerr Ladies revolutionised women’s football. They were the first female team to play internationally. Becoming a suffrage platform and beacon of hope in the fight for equality. Passing the ultimate test, they beat multiple Stoke teams on wet windy nights, many times.

Women’s football’s popularity was amplified by a Boxing Day fixture at Goodison Park in 1920, featuring Dick Kerr Ladies, which amassed 53’000 spectators with another 17’000 being turned away. Which set the women’s attendance record, with there being more fans than that year’s Men’s FA Cup Final.

Sadly, in 1921 the FA banned women from using their facilities effectively destabilising the women’s game. The reason? To stop the growing threat, it posed to the men’s game. Women’s football still continued but without the same popularity and support. The ban was not lifted until 1971.

Since then, women’s football has continued to grow its popularity, profile, wealth and credibility but there is still a long way to go in order for it to return to the heights of when women’s football ruled the world.