A Farsley-based social enterprise is hosting a special online event on the history of the Women’s FA Cup ahead of the final in a few weeks.
Sporting Heritage CIC is running the event with the BBC sports journalist Chris Slegg, and author of A History of Women’s FA Cup Final and 1985 Women’s FA Cup Winner, Lori Hoey to explore some of the moments that have shaped the evolution of the competition as it marks its 50th anniversary.
This exclusive, free event is being hosted by Sporting Heritage’s Education Lead Derek Peale, and is supported by funding from Sports England.
WFA co-founder, Patricia Gregory will also join the discussion to consider where we would be now if the competition had been fully embraced by the authorities half a century ago.
Derek Peale said:
“The WFA competition and women’s football, in general, has really developed since the very first FA final on Sunday 9th May 1971.
“Southampton Women beat Scottish side, Stewarton Thistle on an overgrown pitch inside an athletics track at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre with just a handful of spectators watching and very little, to no media interest.
“Those early pioneers of the sport have really paved the way for the game we see today. They fought prejudice and discrimination to overturn a ban that had been in place on women’s football since 1921.
“This online event is a brilliant opportunity to find out about the heritage of women’s football and hear the first-hand stories of these inspiring sportswomen.”
Tickets to the online event are free and it takes place Monday, 29 November, 1pm-2.30pm. Tickets are available here.
Sporting Heritage CIC is a not-for-profit community interest company working specifically to support the collection, preservation, access and research of sporting heritage in the UK.
The Women’s FA Cup final is on Sunday, 5 December at 2pm and will see Arsenal take on Chelsea.
