A leading resource for women's football heritage and traditions
Remember when England whupped Germany 5–1? No, not that time. Y’know… 1970… at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa? Before Stevie G, Michael O and, er, Emile H were even born. No? Then read on…
Continue reading “Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa 7 July 1970 – England 5–1 West Germany”
Born: 25 April 1966, Rochford
Position: Defender
Debut: Wales (N) 17 August 1985
Occupation: Sport Development Officer (1989), FA Head of Equality (2015)
Defender Sue Law played around 40 times for England and represented Pelynt, Brighton, Millwall Lionesses and Bromley Borough with calm assurance. But she is perhaps best known as that rare thing: a brainy footballer! The old stereotype says any player with two ‘O’ Levels must be nicknamed “the professor”. But Law is in a different league altogether. After injuries took their toll she hung up her boots but vowed to move women’s football forward from the inside.
Twenty-five years ago Gillian Coultard’s 60th-minute goal condemned Friends of Fulham to their second successive WFA Cup final defeat, before 3,000 fans at Derby’s Baseball Ground. It was the Belles’ fourth Cup win from their seventh appearance in the season’s showpiece. Resurgent Doncaster settled a score from their 1985 defeat by the Londoners and also made up for the previous year, when a shock quarter-final defeat by Leasowe Pacific had denied them their annual Cup final outing.
Continue reading “Baseball Ground, Derby 28 April 1990 – Doncaster Belles 1–0 Friends of Fulham”
Born: c.1952, Norwich
Position: Defender
Debut: Belgium (A) 1 May 1980
Occupation: Office manager (1981), Company director (1986)
The Nigerian women’s football team’s incredible journey to the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup is an inspiring story marred by scandal and intrigue. Amidst farcical scenes and a rotating cast of surreal hangers-on, the team of plucky young women overcame tremendous odds to truly put African women’s football on the map…
Continue reading “True stories: Nigeria at the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup”
Recently-retired Arsenal stalwart Faye White was named in the English Football Hall of Fame this month. While Kelly Smith and Rachel Brown are nailed-on certs to join White in the next couple of years. Who could begrudge these warriors their place in the pantheon of greats? Not Women’s Football Archive, that’s for sure. But where does that leave earlier players, already overlooked for too long? Here’s five whose bizarre exclusion makes the whole thing a JOKE…
Continue reading “Five players NOT in the English Football Hall of Fame”
Born: c.1954, Southampton
Position: Right winger
Debut: Scotland (A) 18 November 1972
Occupation: Trainee machine operator (1972)
Most of the following info about Hale’s achievements comes from the indispensable works of her former team mates, Sue Lopez (
Women on the Ball, 1997) and Wendy Owen (Kicking Against Tradition, 2005)…
[Photo removed by request]
Born: 8 July 1962
Position: Goalkeeper / Defender
Debut: v. England (1985)
Occupation: Computer operator (1987), Security printer (1994)
Kelly Smith – Goals in International Matches
The outstanding English player, who obtained 120 international caps with her two National Teams, has entered the symbolic but exclusive circle of players with a Century of Caps. All matches are friendlies unless stated otherwise.Continue reading “Kelly Smith – Goals in International Matches”
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