{"id":8787,"date":"2022-08-02T17:22:16","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T17:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/?p=8787"},"modified":"2022-08-03T08:44:58","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T08:44:58","slug":"the-lionesses-legacy-footballs-coming-of-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theparentsocial.com\/the-lionesses-legacy-footballs-coming-of-age\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lionesses’ Legacy – Football’s Coming of Age"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I surprised myself at how thoroughly immersed and excited I was watching the Lionesses steam into the final and then onto victory in Euro 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone that knows me, knows that when it comes to football (men’s), I\u2019m an ardent Italy supporter. In fact, so much so, I can\u2019t care less about the England men\u2019s team. However, watching England women play was truly inspiring and I was blown away by their attitude and performance. It was a delight to watch the final with my three daughters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past, I\u2019ve found England women\u2019s football lacking in pace and \u2013 dare I say it \u2013 skill. This probably accounts for why (shamefully) I didn’t watch the Lionesses’ early games in this competition. However, I’ve been converted. The lack of flair I’d historically witnessed was almost certainly due to chronic underfunding of girls and women’s’ football across the board; something which creates a vicious circle. I’ve no doubt that the natural ability and commitment has always been there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Female Players of the Past <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Lionesses
The Dick, Kerr Ladies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The history of women’s football stretches back further than many would imagine with female clubs established as far back as the 1880s. However, in the absence of a league, all games were played for charity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Boxing Day 1920, 53,000 football fans packed into Goodison Park (the same ground that today has has an all-seated capacity of 39,414) to watch a match between Dick, Kerr Ladies and St Helens Ladies. It seems that women’s football was pretty highly regarded during that era. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crushingly though, the next year the Football Association banned women\u2019s football from its clubs\u2019 grounds deeming it ‘unsuitable for females’. This ban remained for almost 50 years. It was probably the catalyst for the denigration of women’s football. <\/p>\n\n\n