They’re saying that a billion people could be watching the Women’s World Cup that kicked off in Canada a few hours ago. This is a scenario that would have never have been envisaged in 1970 when the Women’s Football Association held its first meeting in England.
Initially, growth of the women’s game in England was slow. Elsewhere – notably Scandinavia and the United States – the women’s game was integrated early on with the existing men’s associations and benefited from mature administrative structures, facilities, coaching and financing. In England the women were little more than a curiosity until the 1990s.
But it wasn’t always thus. Even before the First World War women’s matches were crowd-pullers. During and immediately after the War the game took off in popularity. Fuelled by the factory girls who had taken the place of their menfolk teams sprung up and many charity matches were played. One particular team Dick, Kerr’s Ladies, were very prominent and gathered huge crowds wherever they went. One game against St Helen’s Ladies on Boxing Day (St Stephen’s Day) 1920 was watched by a crowd of 53,000 with thousands more unable to gain entrance.
But controversy over money gave a jealous Football Association an excuse to act. They declared that football was no game for women, especially if money was finding its way into the wrong pockets, and they forbade the use of football grounds under the Association’s control.
Interest dwindled, teams folded and the women’s game all but disappeared. However in the mid-60s there were moves afoot for a new beginning and in 1969 the old banning order was rescinded. The Women’s Football Association was founded and competition commenced.
However it was only in 1993 that the women’s game was properly integrated and only now is it becoming properly professional at the top level.
So who’s going to win the present tournament? The US, Germany and France are the favourites. Canada will be tough to beat on home territory. England aren’t good enough on paper to win but it’s a funny old game.
Back On The Rock 
Interesting to learn the history of this. I was not aware of it. Sounds somewhat similar to what happened with women’s baseball in the U.S. after the war.
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Yes, Britt’s book with the baseball women did cross my mind while I was writing this
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Didn’t know about this, Roy. Interesting!
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Hello Aileen and thanks. If only Stephanie Roche was English 🙂
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I’ve never been able to get into watching Women’s football despite having played as a child and, as you know, enjoying watching men’s football. Although, admittedly, I only watch the men’s World Cup and the big final games of the other championships. And, I only watch with the men in my life. Hey, that’s it, I need to get the men in my life to start watching Women’s football (like they don’t watch enough sports on tele, sigh….).
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I guess it’s baseball in your house this time of year Letizia? My football fix is confined to radio these days – I’ve no real urge to watch. I’ve watched the complete evolution of women’s football here in Jersey though. After years of getting smashed by Guernsey the boot is now firmly on the other foot 🙂
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My beau is American so some American sports do make their way into the house but he’s not that into baseball. American football and hockey, however….
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I’d be a baseball fan I’m certain – like cricket the match evolves beautifully over time and has nuances that you’ll never get from ‘highlights’. Sadly we don’t get any exposure to the game.
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I’ve been to one game and it was fun to witness the whole Americana of it all. And I was lucky as it was a game with a lot of home runs which apparently doesn’t happen a lot.
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Hope you stuffed yourself with hot dogs – you’d not get the full experience otherwise 🙂
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Yes, the World Cup is big news around these parts. I’ve never really gotten into soccer – it was never one of the mainstream national sports, although lots of people do play – but it’s good to see a women’s sporting event garnering so much attention. I heard that the corruption allegations currently plaguing FIFA might ironically bring even more profile to the tournament.
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Hi Janna, it might change in time but one great attraction of the women’s game is that it’s played in the right spirit. There’s no cheating or diving and players get up and play on unless they’re truly injured. To be honest the women can never play at the level of the lads but it’s becoming a great game in its own right.
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Roy, what a weekend with the hurling and the French Open! Delighted to have another sporting adventure to launch into and to learn so much about the history of it from this fascinating post.
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Yes Jean, I followed the tennis on radio, both Murray’s match and the final – top sporting drama. What a great game hurling is – a pity it can’t expand beyond Ireland’s shores. I’m looking forward to seeing how the women’s World Cup unfolds.
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So fascinating, and like you said to Carrie up there, this rings true with American women in baseball. It’s a funny thing, isn’t it? I still have trouble understanding these barriers, why they’re still in place after all we’ve been through in history.
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Hey Britt, I think the barriers have been largely removed now but the women can’t necessarily expect people to just roll up and watch. But the opportunity is now there for the average woman to take part in team sport – football, rugby even. You can be less talented now and still contribute to a team effort, plus make good friends. Hopefully it will encourage more women to take part in sporting activity.
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While I’m delighted that Women’s Football is getting more recognition I have to admit that it’s no match for the men’s game from a spectators point of view – it unfortunately is akin to watching the park game. Oops, I’ve probably stirred up a bit of a hornets nest here …
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I’d say it’s getting there at the top level Jenny. But it’s still a fact that kicking is a hard-wired male action. Put a ball in a garden and a boy will kick it, a girl will pick it up or ignore it. Plus a woman generally doesn’t have the strength to hit long passes and 30-yard screamers. And, for reasons I don’t understand, the goalies can’t seem to jump 🙂 For now I think it’s all about opportunity and participation for the girls rather than attracting crowds, though I guess the World Cup will be awesome for them.
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We are so excited about the Women’s World Cup. My daughter plays soccer and we’d hoped to go to one of the games in Canada, but they’re all so far away and don’t work with our schedules. We’ll definitely watch on tv. I find women’s soccer so much more exciting than men’s. Women play almost shoulder-to-shoulder. It’s much more physical contact than I see among men. Tonight it’s USA vs. Australia. Go USA!
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Hi Juliann – no you certainly can’t just jump on a bus and go to a match in North America can you 🙂 Maybe Americans connect more with the women’s game as it’s the one place they have led the way for the men – they’re very highly rated.
I think you’d find British football highly physical in a way the women can’t match. However, in many parts of the world, it can be slow and tactical for long periods. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for the US result tonight.
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So who won Roy? I don’t watch much sport but its good to see these amazing athletes showing their talents on an international scale.
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It’s a tournament Kath, just starting. Your Oz girls (the Matildas) lost to the USA last night but that’s no disgrace. They still have two matches to go and could still progress. Yes I’m pleased that the top women are now getting recognition and can even make a living from the game.
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Sounds like a very tough tournament Roy.
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Girls grow up playing soccer, rugby and GAA with the lads until they are 12 over here, then go into girls teams. Its the norm. I don’t know if there’s much money in it, but seems popular.
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You’re right Ali – somehow young Irish girls are way sportier than in the UK/Jersey. There doesn’t seem to be that gender divide. When I coached track & field in Dublin it was the girls who were the fierce competitors, almost intimidating the lads both by their numerical supremacy and will to compete. I’ve no doubt the Girls in Green will be a force in football in the near future.
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Wouldn’t that be great?
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Go The Matildas!!!! I know we’re probably not a serious contender but it’s great to see the women out there giving it their all for good old Oz DD
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Well first match lost, but that’s no disgrace. US will be one of the favourites.
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It’s only thanks to enlightened men like you that it all comes together, Roy:). The fact that you write about it–and sport of it–is phenom!
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Hey Kristine, a few of us are emerging from our caves, blinking 🙂
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