A Brief History of Women’s Football
Today, women’s football is dominating headlines, and rightly so. With the Lionesses incredible win in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, it’s clear that the sport has earned its rightful place on the world stage. But behind every moment of glory is a long battle to be seen, heard, and respected.
It All Started Over a Century Ago
The roots of women’s football go deeper than many realise. During World War I, women across the UK stepped into factory jobs and, during breaks, spent their time playing football. By 1920, matches were drawing crowds of over 50,000 fans.
But just as momentum was building, the FA struck back.
The Ban that Tried to Silence Women’s Football
In 1921, the Football Association banned women from playing on affiliated pitches, declaring the sport “unsuitable for females”. That ban lasted for 50 years. Half a century of progress delayed, but not forgotten.
Women’s football survived behind the scenes. Independent teams formed their own leagues, communities kept the game alive, and players trained without support, funding, or safe facilities.
Their grit and determination is truly inspiring.
The Fight Back
It wasn’t until 1971 that the FA lifted the ban. But the damage had been done. There were decades of lost development, no infrastructure, and minimal funding. Still, the women persisted. By the 1990s, international competitions were growing, and the first official FIFA Women’s World Cup launched in China 1991.
Step by step, game by game, women’s football was rebuilt from the ground up.
A New Era: Records, Role Models, and Roars
Fast forward to today: The Lionesses’ have made history. Again.
From their Euros win in 2022, their World Cup final in 2023, and now, their glory at the Euros 2025, they are proof that talent and determination will always rise.
The fans? They’ve shown up in force, packing out Wembley, breaking TV viewership records, and changing the conversation around women in sport.
The history of women’s football shows us that progress isn’t always linear. From backstreet pitches to sold-out arenas, the game has proved that no barrier is too big and no goal is too far to reach.