Dick, Kerr's Ladies team were the unofficial England women's team By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine Luton Town manager Mike Newell may have apologised for his "sexist" remarks about a female football official, but his tirade is a reminder of the mountain women have struggled to climb to be accepted into the football fold.
Dick, Kerr's Ladies team were the unofficial England women's team By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine Luton Town manager Mike Newell may have apologised for his "sexist" remarks about a female football official, but his tirade is a reminder of the mountain women have struggled to climb to be accepted into the football fold.
Boxing Day, 1920 at Everton's Goodison Park ground. More than 53,000 fans are already inside and a further 12,000 are stuck beyond turnstile, desperate to get in.
Boxing Day, 1920 at Everton's Goodison Park ground. More than 53,000 fans are already inside and a further 12,000 are stuck beyond turnstile, desperate to get in.
Among the attractions is a chance to glimpse the visiting side's 6ft goal machine, who scored 43 the previous season - all at the tender age of just 14. One shot was so powerful it broke a goal keeper's arm.
Among the attractions is a chance to glimpse the visiting side's 6ft goal machine, who scored 43 the previous season - all at the tender age of just 14. One shot was so powerful it broke a goal keeper's arm.
The team generating such excitement that day was made up of 11 women from a factory in Preston and their teenage sensation was Lily Parr. They did not disappoint. The Dick, Kerr Ladies beat St Helens Ladies 4-0.
The team generating such excitement that day was made up of 11 women from a factory in Preston and their teenage sensation was Lily Parr. They did not disappoint. The Dick, Kerr Ladies beat St Helens Ladies 4-0.
1972 England team prepare for a match
1972 England team prepare for a match
These days, the focus of women's involvement in the beautiful game tends to be little more than the perma-tanned, label-fixated WAGS (wives and girlfriends) who hang off the arms of their Premiership partners. But women have been involved in the game for over 100 years.
These days, the focus of women's involvement in the beautiful game tends to be little more than the perma-tanned, label-fixated WAGS (wives and girlfriends) who hang off the arms of their Premiership partners. But women have been involved in the game for over 100 years.
The first recorded ladies' football match took place at Crouch End Athletic Ground in north London in March 1895. But it was during World War I that the game really blossomed in England, when women not only took on men's jobs but their places on the football field.
The first recorded ladies' football match took place at Crouch End Athletic Ground in north London in March 1895. But it was during World War I that the game really blossomed in England, when women not only took on men's jobs but their places on the football field.
More than 150 teams played regular matches in front of decent crowds. The response of professional football's governing body, the FA? It banned women from FA-affiliated pitches and forbade its male referees and linesmen from officiating at their games.
More than 150 teams played regular matches in front of decent crowds. The response of professional football's governing body, the FA? It banned women from FA-affiliated pitches and forbade its male referees and linesmen from officiating at their games.
Struggle
Struggle
Despite the ban, women continued playing and some of the biggest names in the game officiated at women's matches, including Bill Shankly and Tom Finney. The Dick, Kerr Ladies were a team until 1965 and won 758 of the 828 games they played - a record any male counterparts would be proud of.
Despite the ban, women continued playing and some of the biggest names in the game officiated at women's matches, including Bill Shankly and Tom Finney. The Dick, Kerr Ladies were a team until 1965 and won 758 of the 828 games they played - a record any male counterparts would be proud of.
But with little support the women's game slipped into obscurity. The FA's ban was eventually repealed in 1971 when it recognised the Women's Football Association (WFA) two years after its formation.
But with little support the women's game slipped into obscurity. The FA's ban was eventually repealed in 1971 when it recognised the Women's Football Association (WFA) two years after its formation.
By the mid-80s the WFA had become an affiliate of the body and elbowed its way to a seat on the FA's council. But in the early 90s it handed over day-to-day running of the game to the organisation.
By the mid-80s the WFA had become an affiliate of the body and elbowed its way to a seat on the FA's council. But in the early 90s it handed over day-to-day running of the game to the organisation.
It takes a strong-willed woman to exist in the game Tony LeightonSports writer
It takes a strong-willed woman to exist in the game Tony LeightonSports writer
But the battle for acceptance was still far from won.
But the battle for acceptance was still far from won.
While an estimated £1m is spent annually on developing the game - said to be the most popular female sport in England - the recent unguarded comments of Luton Town FC manager Mike Newell, about a female assistant referee, reveal ingrained prejudice still exists at the top level.
While an estimated £1m is spent annually on developing the game - said to be the most popular female sport in England - the recent unguarded comments of Luton Town FC manager Mike Newell, about a female assistant referee, reveal ingrained prejudice still exists at the top level.
"It is bad enough with the incapable referees and linesmen we have, but if you start bringing in women, you have big problems," said Newell. " I know that sounds sexist, but I am sexist." He later apologised for the remarks.
"It is bad enough with the incapable referees and linesmen we have, but if you start bringing in women, you have big problems," said Newell. " I know that sounds sexist, but I am sexist." He later apologised for the remarks.
Tony Leighton, who writes the only weekly national newspaper column on female football in The Guardian, says Newell's outburst is revealing.
Tony Leighton, who writes the only weekly national newspaper column on female football in The Guardian, says Newell's outburst is revealing.
"It takes a strong-willed woman to exist in the game. There is still a lot of aggression against women in the game," says Leighton. "I think it is part of the national psyche. It's not the same in the US because historically no one sex has played the game."
"It takes a strong-willed woman to exist in the game. There is still a lot of aggression against women in the game," says Leighton. "I think it is part of the national psyche. It's not the same in the US because historically no one sex has played the game."
Newell's comments come after Sepp Blatter, the president of the world governing body Fifa, suggested a few years ago that female players wear tighter shorts. Just last year the Uefa president, Lennart Johansson, said women's football should be sold on sex appeal with "sweaty and lovely looking" players.
Newell's comments come after Sepp Blatter, the president of the world governing body Fifa, suggested a few years ago that female players wear tighter shorts. Just last year the Uefa president, Lennart Johansson, said women's football should be sold on sex appeal with "sweaty and lovely looking" players.
Dick, Kerr's Ladies were stars"The really sad thing is that women in football only make the headlines when some man has made a sexist comment," says Marianne Spacey, former England international and now women's development officer at Worcester FA.
Dick, Kerr's Ladies were stars"The really sad thing is that women in football only make the headlines when some man has made a sexist comment," says Marianne Spacey, former England international and now women's development officer at Worcester FA.
"We have our own premiership which plays every Sunday, how often do you read about that? It's still a huge step for some women to get into football, comments like this make them shy away."
"We have our own premiership which plays every Sunday, how often do you read about that? It's still a huge step for some women to get into football, comments like this make them shy away."
A major step forward has been the development of a system that can take a promising school girl from the playground to the national team. But there are still no professional women's teams. Fulham's tried but the team folded two years ago, after it was directed to become financially self-sufficient.
A major step forward has been the development of a system that can take a promising school girl from the playground to the national team. But there are still no professional women's teams. Fulham tried but the team folded two years ago, after it was directed to become financially self-sufficient.
Most female players have to work. Germany's Birgit Prinz - last year's Fifa Women's World Player of the Year - holds down a part-time physiotherapist job. Her male counterpart, Ronaldinho, earns a reported £13.3m a year from the football.
Most female players have to work. Germany's Birgit Prinz - last year's Fifa Women's World Player of the Year - holds down a part-time physiotherapist job. Her male counterpart, Ronaldinho, earns a reported £13.3m a year from the football.
Trouser ban
Trouser ban
Some players for the bigger teams, such as Arsenal Ladies, have jobs with the club. As well as earning a wage, it allows them all the time they need to train and play.
Some players for the bigger teams, such as Arsenal Ladies, have jobs with the club. As well as earning a wage, it allows them all the time they need to train and play.
"No-one is saving enough money so they can retire in a few years and will never have to earn again," says Mr Leighton.
"No-one is saving enough money so they can retire in a few years and will never have to earn again," says Mr Leighton.
When it comes to promoting women in football, possibly the biggest PR opportunity in the game will come next year. For the first time in 12 years, England have qualified for the women's World Cup finals in China.
When it comes to promoting women in football, possibly the biggest PR opportunity in the game will come next year. For the first time in 12 years, England have qualified for the women's World Cup finals in China.
Spacey played for EnglandIt will face teams like Germany, current women's World and European champions. The FA in Germany took responsibility for women's football back in the mid 70s and has been developing it over a long period of time.
Spacey played for EnglandIt will face teams like Germany, current women's World and European champions. The FA in Germany took responsibility for women's football back in the mid 70s and has been developing it over a long period of time.
"That only happened in 1993 in England," says an FA spokeswoman. "But we now have a pathway for those with talent to work their way up."
"That only happened in 1993 in England," says an FA spokeswoman. "But we now have a pathway for those with talent to work their way up."
But while England may be lagging behind other countries in so many ways, times are changing and it is the younger generation of female footballers who are benefiting.
But while England may be lagging behind other countries in so many ways, times are changing and it is the younger generation of female footballers who are benefiting.
"At my school girls play as much football as boys," says Katherine Cuthermore, 11.
"At my school girls play as much football as boys," says Katherine Cuthermore, 11.
"Playing at lunchtime doesn't depend on you being a boy or a girl, it depends how good you are. I would love to play for England when I grow up. It's a dream for girls as well as boys now."
"Playing at lunchtime doesn't depend on you being a boy or a girl, it depends how good you are. I would love to play for England when I grow up. It's a dream for girls as well as boys now."
It's a far cry from the Dick, Kerr Ladies' Boxing Day match, when they were banned from wearing trousers travelling to and from the game.
It's a far cry from the Dick, Kerr Ladies' Boxing Day match, when they were banned from wearing trousers travelling to and from the game.
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