Why women’s football was banned for 50 years – and is only just recovering
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A 12-year-old girl sat on a bus, flanked by her parents, en route from Prescot to Manchester for a football match. She wasn’t going to watch; she was going to play unremarkable? Today, certainly. But it was the 1950, and girls and women were under strict edicts not to play – from none other than the FA.
That 12-year – old girl was Sylvia Gore. She had always loved football, and as a child would kick a ball around with her father and uncle, learning the techniques like millions of other children the world over. ” The local football team, Prescott Cables used to look for me at half – time so I could come on and kick a ball in the goal – they accepted it, ” Gore said in May 2016.” A lot of men up and down the country didn’t. “
The FA’s ban women’s football began in 1921- a kneejerk reaction to its popularity. The world – famous Dick, Kerr’s Ladies – plus a handful of other outfits – had helped to fill the gap left by the Football League’s hiatus during the First World War, and attracted huge attendances to their games as they raised money for charity.
Up to this point, women’s football had been running almost parallel to the men’s game. A trailblazing player using the pseudonym Nettie Honey ball had formed the British Ladies ‘ Football Club at the end of the 19th century, and her team toured the country to play exhibition games. Although spectators may have originally turned up to delight in the undignified spectacles, reports from the time suggest they found themselves enthralled by the quality of play.
Ananimus 