Let girls play

Two historical football games. Women ushered off the pitch. And a modern game. This is what Alexandra Park had to offer on the 26th of March.

If you are confused, keep reading – it will all start making sense.

We think women’s football is a modern thing, but actually, it was already big a century ago. Yes, you read correctly. The first women’s club game was reported to have taken place in 1895; 128 years ago. The same year volleyball was invented. The same year the Cuban War of Independence started.

A lot can happen in such a long period of time. It was certainly the case for women’s football. Although the Lionesses shed a light on women’s success and prominence in a male-dominated industry with their win in the 2022 Euros, women were once successful and respected in the industry – long before modern victories.

The Dick Kerr Ladies, notable team of the early 20^th Century founded in 1917, brought the biggest crowd to date for a women’s game on Boxing Day 1920, with 53,000 spectators. However, it quickly took a turn the following year; women were banned from playing football on the pretence of the game being ‘unsuitable’ for them. They were discouraged from playing until the FA finally lifted the ban 50 years later, in 1971.

This left a whole generation of women deprived of the sport. For a lot of them, like Jacquie Head, 65, the ban impacted their upbringing. She said: “I always loved football but never could play in my youth. All I ever heard was ‘girls don’t play football’.”

It has been 42 years since the ban was lifted, and girls still hear that phrase.

Things are changing, as Kate Gerrand, captain of the Alexandra Park football team said: “We’ve done a lot in the last couple of years to promote women’s football and contribute to the upsurge in interest for women’s football in making it more accessible and fun”.

“We’ve tried to connect more with Alexandra Palace. We were recently featured in a music video, which is a great opportunity to promote women’s football”, added Kate.

Jacquie Head decided to organise an exhibition match at Alexandra Palace to recreate the first ever women’s club game played and promote women’s football.

But why now? And why there? – You may ask.

1895 gear

1917 gear

It wasn’t until the Lionesses won last summer that Jacquie thought of looking up the history of women’s football. From there, she found out that one of the most prominent female players ever, Nettie Honeyball, had lived on her street, and that the first ever women’s league game had been played pretty much in her backyard in Crouch End, North London.

From that point, it all fell into place.

She decided it was time everyone should know about women’s football, and what better way to do it than to make it a day of events to bring the community together? Jacquie and her team made sure the event mirrored the original games. From the ground on which it was played to the clothing, Jacquie arranged for every single detail to tell the story as best she could.

She also took the opportunity of March being women’s history month to celebrate 128 years of women in football.

With a historical display and archive footage, participants were invited to embark on the crazy journey that is women’s fight for their rights and equality through one of the most popular sports in the world.

Although we need such events to take place, women’s football still has a long way to go.

Professional female players continuously face financial disparities compared to men. Female gear is inappropriate. And professional men’s teams could promote their women’s teams better.

Yes, the Lionesses’ success brought women to the forefront, but what about every other team?

As Olivia Clarke, Bristol City Women FA player, put it: “In terms of the top end of it it’s great, but the whole pyramid now needs exposure. It needs to change.”

Sunday 26^th of March was Alexandra Palace’s biggest opportunity to put women on the centre stage – and it proved to be a real success. The rain and mud didn't stop three games from being played, just like in the old days.