Administrator: Roger Ebben

Roger Ebben     Born: 1947, Southampton Position: Press and media officer Debut: N/A Occupation: Restauranteur (1983), Jewellery shop proprietor (2008)   Roger Ebben: WFA PR Guru   Of all the challenges facing the newly-formed WFA in 1969, the issue of media coverage was perhaps the most pressing. As the first England boss Eric WorthingtonContinue reading “Administrator: Roger Ebben”

Player: Linda Coffin

Linda Coffin     Born: c.1955, Portsmouth Position: Centre-back Debut: Wales (H) 22 May 1976 Occupation: Section manager (1976), Chargehand (1982)   Linda “The Rock” Coffin: One of England’s finest ever defenders, who backstopped the great Southampton WFC team of her era to four WFA Cup wins.  

Administrator: Linda Whitehead

Linda Whitehead     Linda Whitehead: A lifetime’s dedication to women’s football in England   The smiling public face of the Women’s Football Association from 1980 to 1993, who later served Millwall Lionesses and Arsenal Ladies with distinction. Whitehead is a diligent and well-regarded sports administrator. With her contribution stretching across four decades, icon WhiteheadContinue reading “Administrator: Linda Whitehead”

Players: Pat Davies

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.  

1997: The first UEFA under–18 tournament

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

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

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.

Administrator: Flo Bilton

Florence “Flo” Bilton   Born: c.1921, Hull Position: Goalkeeper Debut: N/A Occupation: Factory Worker (1963)   Flo Bilton: Hull’s favourite footballing daughter   An influential player in the formation of the Hull Women’s FA in 1968 and the WFA in 1969, Bilton served as WFA membership secretary for many years and was a plucky andContinue reading “Administrator: Flo Bilton”