-
1869-1897
In August 1869 it was suggesting that pick-up games could involve girls and women. Between 1881 and 1897, is when real women's games took place. In this time over 120 organized matches were recorded and women's football grew in popularity. These early games were played on large enough grounds to draw crowds of 10,000 spectators. -
1881
In 1881 the first international Women's soccer match was played between England and Scotland. It is said that this game occurred to draw in large crowds and promote the sport. This game did exactly that. This match brought people into the idea of women playing soccer. -
1917
The first women's soccer team called the Kerr Ladies F.C. was formed in 1917. This team was comprised of women who were employed in 1914 to help produce ammunition for the First World War. The Kerr Ladies F.C. had the capability to bring in strong crowds, and also help raise money for injured servicemen. The first game was played on December 25, 1917. -
1920
Two women’s soccer teams played each other in front of a massive crowd of 53,000 people in Liverpool. Although that was a major achievement for women’s soccer, it had terrible consequences for the women’s league in the United Kingdom. So the uproar of women's soccer declined in places all around the world because it was getting too popular. In response to the large crowds and continued support of working men. -
1921
After seeing how popular the women’s teams were becoming, England’s Football Association felt it needed to act. The women's teams were seen as a threat to the men's teams. In order to keep the men’s sport the most popular; England’s Football Association placed a ban on women’s soccer. Also, in 1921 the CCFA passed a resolution expressing 'their strong opinion that the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged.' -
1930
After women's soccer was banned because it was getting more popular than men's soccer, France and Italy created their own Women's leagues. Almost directly after, women's soccer started to rise in popularity once again. After World War 2, countries all across Europe started to create and join different Women's leagues. -
1969
The European Federation started to integrate women's soccer into the existing system. "It was a piecemeal and uneven process that depended on extensive lobbying and organizing on the part of women’s players and the attitude of each national association. Gradually, however, a whole new generation of young women begin playing football more extensively than ever before." Quickly nations all around the world had women's soccer teams, and women's world cups started to form. -
1971
After 51 years of women soccer having a ban, it was finally lifted, and women could play on the same field as men. A year after the ban was lifted, women’s soccer in America became more popular due to Title IX. The new law meant that more women could go to college with a sports scholarship, and as a result, it meant that women’s soccer was becoming a more common sport at colleges all over the United States. -
1996
In 1996 the Olympics were held in Atlanta. For the first time in the Olympic games, women were allowed to play soccer in the Olympics. In 1996, Women's soccer had officially became an Olympic sport. -
Present Day
Over time, articles and publicity of women’s soccer became more positive. Along with the articles, there were also some players that became legends. "With every year, more and more girls start to play soccer, so it will not be long before there are even more female players that everybody knows about."
