Women's Football in Blackpool

The early beginnings of organised women’s football trace back to the late 19th century, a time when the sport was still finding its footing among male players. The first recorded women’s match took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 7 May, 1881. This game featured teams representing Scotland and England and was a bold step in introducing women to the football scene. However, it was not without challenges. The match faced disruption from the crowd, and societal attitudes at the time were largely dismissive of women participating in such a physically demanding activity.

By the 1890s, efforts to formalise women’s football began to take shape. In 1894, Nettie Honeyball, a pioneering advocate for women’s rights, founded the British Ladies’ Football Club (BLFC). Based in London, this club aimed to provide women with opportunities to play the game and challenge the gender norms of the period. While the BLFC held several matches and gained some public attention, it was often treated as a novelty act rather than a serious sporting initiative.

Despite the enthusiasm of players and supporters, women’s football struggled against societal constraints and lack of institutional backing. Matches were often informal and poorly attended, and public opinion frequently ridiculed the idea of women playing football. However, these early efforts laid the groundwork for what would become a thriving sport in later decades.

One such example of what become for the women of this sport is in this post, focusing on a Pathe video featuring teams from England and France during a 1937 match. The video shows them posing for camera beforehand and also includes the start and various other shots during the game, including one of the goals. Brace yourself, the commentator makes many plays on words throughout. For more on women’s football, have a look at our post on Mac Barlow.