womensfootballarchive

Arsenal Ladies FC are a franchise

Arsenal Ladies are an MK Dons–style FRANCHISE, put together in Islington, 1987.

R.I.P. Gero Bisanz

Women’s football pioneer Gero Bisanz has died of a heart attack aged 78. He was manager of the German women’s national team between 1982 and 1996.

Pat “Thunder” Davies Born: c.1955, Netley Position: Striker Debut: Scotland (A) 18 November 1972 Occupation: Valuations clerk (1972) Nicknamed “Thunder” for her booming shot, England’s original centre-forward was small in stature but big in goals. A deadly striker whose aerial prowess belied her lack of inches, Davies burst on the sceneContinue reading “Players: Pat Davies”

Players: Janet Bagguley

Janet Bagguley Born: c.1955, Buxton Position: Defensive midfield Debut: Scotland (A) 18 November 1972 Occupation: TBC Midfield enforcer Bagguley, 17, made it through the trials into Eric Worthington’s original England squad in 1972. She also played netball to a high standard.

Player: Miss C.V. Richards

The death of Miss C.V. Richards: A tragedy felt right round the world England booked their place at the 2015 Women’s World Cup this week, with a 4–0 win in Cardiff. Wales’s mad five minutes just before half-time saw them ship three ridiculous goals and turned the match into a tedious cakewalk. But eventsContinue reading “Player: Miss C.V. Richards”

Ann Chiejine: Nigeria’s Princess of Goalkeepers

A woman of colour smiling enigmatically and wearing a green and white tracksuit

Ann Chiejine: Groundbreaking Falcons ‘keeper We’ve all heard the lazy stereotypes about African goalkeepers (“naïve” “erratic”), and female goalkeepers (“rubbish”). Ann Agumanu-Chiejine is a living, breathing repudiation of both. One of Africa’s finest ever goalkeepers, the Nigerian’s athleticism and breathtaking acrobatic ability earned her five consecutive African Nations Cups with the Super Falcons, asContinue reading “Ann Chiejine: Nigeria’s Princess of Goalkeepers”

Anne O’Brien: Irish soccer legend

This lovely photograph shows O'Brien (2nd right) beside the late Pierre Geoffroy during training with Reims. Two other players Dejean and Souef look on.

Anne O’Brien: Irish soccer star who carved out a glittering career on mainland Europe The girl from Dublin who dreamed big – overcoming incredible obstacles to make her mark in international soccer. In the course of a long and successful career she won six Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia winner’s medals and etchedContinue reading “Anne O’Brien: Irish soccer legend”

1997: The first UEFA under–18 tournament

The programme for the second UEFA under-18 tournament (Group 3) November 1998

England’s first taste of women’s football at youth team level England’s under-19 team have been in Norway this past week, in UEFA Championship action, while next week the under-20s take centre stage at their World Cup in Canada. Now a regular part of the football calendar, it is only in recent years thatContinue reading “1997: The first UEFA under–18 tournament”

Portopia ’81 – England women tour Japan

A group of about 20 women stand in front of an airplane wearing dowdy skirt suits

Caught in time: the England women’s football team jet off to Japan in September 1981 In autumn 1981, coach Martin Reagan’s charges made history by becoming the first England national team ever to visit the Land of the Rising Sun. According to the Japanese FA, the Portpier 81 International Ladies Football Festival tournamentContinue reading “Portopia ’81 – England women tour Japan”

Players: Jane Stanley

A smiling woman with curly brown hair in a red, white and blue T-shirt

Jane Stanley: Raising the Standard Born: 13 April 1964 Position: Forward Debut: Ireland (H) 27 April 1986 Occupation: Sports Development Assistant (1987), Pro footballer (1989) A prolific scorer and exquisite ball player who broke new ground in Belgium with Standard Liège, doing much to improve the reputation of England’s footballers on the continent.