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UEFA Women's Cup Final 2005 at Potsdam

Women's association football is the most prominent team sport for women in many countries, and one of the few women's team sports with professional leagues. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x731, 203 KB) UEFA-Womens Cup Final 2005 at Potsdam: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x731, 203 KB) UEFA-Womens Cup Final 2005 at Potsdam: 1. ... UEFA Womens Cup Competition Logo The UEFA Womens Cup is the first international womens football (soccer) club competition for teams that play in UEFA nations. ... 1. ... “Soccer” redirects here. ... Womens Australian rules football is a team sport. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... Professional athletes are distinguished from amateur athletes by virtue of being paid. ...

The History of Women's Football

Early Women's football

Women have been playing "football" for as long as the game has existed. Evidence shows that an ancient version of the game (Tsu Chu) was played by women during the Han Dynasty (25–220 CE). Two female figures are depicted in Han Dynasty (25–220 CE) frescoes, playing Tsu Chu.^[1] There are, however, a number of opinions about the accuracy of dates, the earliest estimates at 5000 BCE.^[2] Cuju (è¹´éž ) was an ancient sport similar to soccer, played in China as well as Korea and Japan. ... Han Dynasty in 87 BC Capital Changan (202 BC–9 AD) Luoyang (25 AD–190 AD) Language(s) Chinese Religion Taoism, Confucianism Government Monarchy History  - Establishment 206 BC  - Battle of Gaixia; Han rule of China begins 202 BC  - Interruption of Han rule 9 - 24  - Abdication to Cao Wei 220... This article is about the year 220. ... Han Dynasty in 87 BC Capital Changan (202 BC–9 AD) Luoyang (25 AD–190 AD) Language(s) Chinese Religion Taoism, Confucianism Government Monarchy History  - Establishment 206 BC  - Battle of Gaixia; Han rule of China begins 202 BC  - Interruption of Han rule 9 - 24  - Abdication to Cao Wei 220... This article is about the year 220. ... (6th millennium BC – 5th millennium BC – 4th millennium BC – other millennia) Events 4713 BC – The epoch (origin) of the Julian Period described by Joseph Justus Scaliger occurred on January 1, the astronomical Julian day number zero. ...

Europe's First Documented Matches

Association football, the modern game, also has documented early women's matches. In Europe, it is possible that 12th c. French women played football as part of that era's folk games. An annual competition in Mid-Lothian, Scotland during the 1790s is reported, too.^[3][4] In 1863, football governing bodies introduced standardized rules to prohibit violence on the pitch, making it more socially acceptable for women to play. The first women's match recorded by the Scottish Football Association took place in 1892 in Glasgow. In England, the first recorded game of football between women took place in 1895.^[5][6] “Soccer” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The central portions of the old province of Lothian in Scotland, centred around Edinburgh, became known as Midlothian, Scotland. ... This article is about the country. ... Events and Trends French Revolution (1789 - 1799). ... Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Scottish Football Association (SFA) is the governing body for the sport of football in Scotland. ... Year 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Nettie Honeyball

The most well documented early European team was founded by activist, Nettie Honeyball, in England, 1894. It was named the British Ladies Football Club. Nettie Honeyball is quoted, "I founded the association late last year [1894], with the fixed resolve of proving to the world that women are not the ‘ornamental and useless’ creatures men have pictured. I must confess, my convictions on all matters where the sexes are so widely divided are all on the side of emancipation, and I look forward to the time when ladies may sit in Parliament and have a voice in the direction of affairs, especially those which concern them most."^[7] Honeyball and those like her paved the way for women's football. However, the women's game was frowned upon by the British football associations,^{[citation needed]} and continued without their support. It has been suggested that exclusion of women was motivated by a perceived threat to the 'masculinity' of the game. 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The term womens suffrage refers to an economic and political reform movement aimed at extending suffrage — the right to vote — to women. ... The House of Representatives Chamber of the Parliament of Australia in Canberra. ...

WWI Company Teams

Women's football first became popular on a large scale during World War I, when employment of women in heavy industry spurred the growth of the game via company teams, much as it had done for men fifty years earlier. The most successful team of the era was Dick, Kerr's Ladies of Preston, England. Dick, Kerr's Ladies played in the first women's international matches in 1920. They played a team from JIMBABWE, France in April, and also made up most of the England team against BRITISH ladies in 1920, winning 22-0.^[3] Dick, Kerr's Ladies returned to Scotland in 1921, for a second international with an audience of 6,000. They also toured Scotland afterwards, playing five matches for 70,000 people in the stands. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Dick, Kerrs Ladies is the most famous early Womens football (soccer) team. ... This article is about Preston, Lancashire. ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Women Banned in England and Scotland

Despite being more popular than some men's football events (one match saw a 53,000 strong crowd), women's football in England and Scotland suffered a blow in 1921. The Football Association, in England, banned women from playing the game on Association members' pitches, on the grounds that the game (as played by women) was distasteful. A similar decree was made by Scottish football authorities. Some speculated that these decisions may have been driven by envy of the large crowds that women's matches attracted.^[8] The ban led to the formation of the English Ladies Football Association, and women's football matches were moved to rugby grounds and park football pitches not affiliated to the FA. The ban limited public exposure for women's football and slowed its growth, but did not stop it. Women's football continued to draw dedicated players and fans. Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Football Association (The FA) is the governing body of football in England and the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. ... For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ...

The 'revival' of the women's game

The English Women's FA was formed in 1969 (as a result of the increased interest generated by the 1966 World Cup),^[9] and the FA's ban on matches being played on members' grounds was finally lifted in 1971.^[5] In the same year UEFA recommended that the women's game should be taken under the control of the national associations in each country.^[9] Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... 1966 was a year of triumph for the host nation, England, which won in a controversial final beating West Germany 4-2. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... The Union Européenne de Football Association or Union of European Football Associations in English, almost always referred to by the acronym UEFA (pronounced (you-AY-fuh) or (oo-Ay-fuh) or ), is the administrative and controlling body for European football. ...

In the 1970s, Italy became the first country with professional women's football players, albeit on a part-time basis. The first full-time professional team was the United States national squad, and in 1992, Japan was the first country to have a semi-professional women's football league. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... First International Italy 1–0 USA (Jesolo, Italy; 18 August 1985) Largest win USA 12–0 Mexico (Port-au-Prince, Haiti; 18 April 1991) USA 12–0 Martinique (Port-au-Prince, Haiti; 20 April 1991) Worst defeat USA 0–4 Brazil (Hangzhou, China; 27 September 2007) World Cup Appearances 5... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Womens football (soccer). ...

The 21st century

2003 FIFA Women's World Cup

At the beginning of the 21st century women's football, like men's football, has become professionalised and is growing in both popularity and participation. From the first known professional team in 1984 ^{[citation needed]}, to the hundreds of thousands of tickets sold for the 1999 Women's World Cup,^[10] support of women's professional football (soccer) has increased around the globe. It is now the third most popular sport in the world.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,272 × 1,704 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,272 × 1,704 pixels, file size: 1. ... The FIFA Womens World Cup 2003 was held in the United States and won by Germany. ... 20XX redirects here. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Womens football (soccer). ... The FIFA Womens World Cup 1999 was held in the United States and won by the host team. ...

However, as in other sports, women have struggled for pay and opportunities equal to male football players'. Major league and international women's football enjoys far less television and media coverage than the men's equivalent. For instance the 2006 Algarve Cup, a significant international tournament, was televised very little in Europe (Eurosport did broadcast some games) and none at all in the USA (where the women's game arguably has the highest profile) and other regions. Another example is that FIFA's Women's web site links to information about the men's team. In spite of this, the popularity and participation in women's football is expected to continue growing.^[11] While womens football (soccer) is not as high profile as mens football, with the possible exception of the United States, there are many countries around the world which do organise football for women on a national and club level. ... The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in womens football (soccer), held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994. ... Eurosport is the largest European sports satellite and cable network available in 54 countries and broadcasting in 18 different languages. ...

One of the first modern pro women's teams was the US Women's Team, which played their first match in 1985. Japan has a sponsored league, called the L. League, which hosts friendlies, as well as football camps, striving to increase skills and level of play.

The Women's United Soccer Association in the United States, in the early 2000s, was the first true all-professional league for women anywhere in the world; however, its ephemeral success was a setback for professionalism, and to date the top national leagues in the advanced countries, such as the Premier League National, the L. League, the W-League, Women's Bundesliga (Germany and Austria), Toppserien (Norway), Superliga Femenina (Spain), Women's National Soccer League (Australia), and others are either amateur or semi-professional.

For the Women's Olympic Football Tournament, given the general abandonment of amateur regulations in the Olympic Games in the 1990s, the national women's teams do not have restrictions due to professionalism or age, thus the tournament becomes a back-to-back re-World Cup with the best teams of the previous year's World Cup plus the hosts. However, England and other British Home Nations are not eligible to compete as separate entities because the International Olympic Committee does not recognize their FIFA status as separate nations, and it remains to be seen how the United Kingdom will be incorporated into the 2012 Olympic tournament, given that FIFA does not recognise the UK as a single sporting entity. Stamp The International Olympic Committee (French: Comité International Olympique) is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas on June 23, 1894. ... The football tournaments of the 2012 Olympic Games will be held at a number of stadia across the United Kingdom, as well as the host city London. ...

Competitions

The growth in women's football has seen major competitions being launched at both national and international level. For more information see Women's football around the world and International competitions in women's football respectively. While womens football (soccer) is not as high profile as mens football, with the possible exception of the United States, there are many countries around the world which do organise football for women on a national and club level. ... This article lists all international competitions in womens football (soccer). ... While womens football (soccer) is not as high profile as mens football, with the possible exception of the United States, there are many countries around the world which do organise football for women on a national and club level. ... This article lists all international competitions in womens football (soccer). ...

The Munitionettes' Cup

In August 1917 a tournament was launched for female munition workers' teams in North-East England. Its official title was the "Tyne Wear & Tees Alfred Wood Munition Girls Cup," but it was popularly known as "The Munitionettes' Cup." The first winners of the trophy were Blyth Spartans, who defeated Bolckow, Vaughan 5-0 in a replayed final tie at Middlesbrough on 18th May 1918. The tournament ran for a second year in season 1918-19, the winners being the ladies of Palmer's shipyard in Jarrow, who defeated Christopher Brown's of Hartlepool 1-0 at St James's Park in Newcastle on 22nd March 1919.

The English Ladies' Football Association Challenge Cup

Following the Football Association ban on women's teams in December 1921, the English Ladies' Football Association was formed. A silver cup was donated by the first president of the association, Len Bridgett, and this was competed for in the spring of 1922. 24 teams entered the competition, the winners being Stoke Ladies, who defeated Doncaster and Bentley Ladies 3-1 on 24th June 1922.

UEFA Women's Championship (Women's Euro)

In 1937, Dick, Kerr's Ladies played Edinburgh Ladies in "The Championship of Great Britain and the World", but there was no formal international tournament until 1982 when the first UEFA European Competition For Representative Women's Teams was launched. The 1984 Finals was won by Sweden. This competition name was succeeded by the UEFA Women's Championship and today, is commonly referred to as the Women's Euro. Norway won, in the 1987 Finals. Since then, the UEFA Women's Championship has been dominated by Germany, which has won six of the seven subsequent competitions, including the 2005 Women's Euro. Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dick, Kerrs Ladies is the most famous early Womens football (soccer) team. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... The Union Européenne de Football Association or Union of European Football Associations in English, almost always referred to by the acronym UEFA (pronounced (you-AY-fuh) or (oo-Ay-fuh) or ), is the administrative and controlling body for European football. ... The UEFA Womens Championship is the main competition in womens football (soccer) between national teams of the UEFA region. ... The 1984 European Competition for Womens Football was won by Sweden on penalties against England. ... The UEFA Womens Championship is the main competition in womens football (soccer) between national teams of the UEFA region. ... The UEFA Womens Championship, held every fourth year, is the main competition in womens football (soccer) between national teams of the UEFA Confederation. ... The 1987 European Competition for Womens Football took place in Norway. ... The UEFA Womens Championship is the main competition in womens football (soccer) between national teams of the UEFA region. ... The 2005 UEFA Womens Championship, also referred to as WOMENS EURO 2005 (trademark of UEFA), was a football tournament for women held from June 5 to June 19, 2005 in Lancashire, England. ...

Women's World Cup

The first Women's World Cup was held in China in 1991, and was won by the USA. The third Cup, held in the United States in 1999, drew worldwide television interest and a final in front of a record-setting 90,000+ Los Angeles crowd, where the home team won 5-4 on penalty kicks. The FIFA Womens World Cup is recognized as the most important International competition in womens football and is played amongst womens national football teams of the member states of FIFA, the sports global governing body. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... Penalty shootouts, officially named kicks from the penalty mark, are a method sometimes used to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament (or wins the tournament) following a draw in a game of football. ...

Prior to the FIFA's establishment of the Women's World Cup, several unofficial tornaments took place,^[12] including the FIFA's Women's Invitation Tournament 1988, which was also hosted in China.

Youth Tournaments

Besides the United States and Germany (which won the 2003 World Cup), the strongest women's teams have traditionally been Norway, China, and Sweden, with nations like Brazil emerging as powers. The FIFA Womens World Cup 2003 was held in the United States and won by Germany. ...

In 2002, FIFA inaugurated a women's youth championship, officially called the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship. The first event was hosted by Canada. The final was an all-CONCACAF affair, with the USA defeating the host Canadians 1-0 with an extra-time golden goal. The second event was held in Thailand in 2004 and won by Germany. The age limit was raised to 20, starting with the 2006 event held in Russia. Demonstrating the increasing global reach of the women's game, the winners of this event were North Korea. The tournament was renamed the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, effective with the 2008 edition to be held in Chile. Also see: 2002 (number). ... The FIFA U-20 Womens World Championship is a world championship football tournament, organized by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), for national teams of women under age 20. ... CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) is the continent-wide governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. ... The golden goal was a method used in football to decide the winner of games in elimination matches which end in a draw after the end of ordinary time (90 minutes). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2006 FIFA U-20 Womens World Championship was held in Russia from 17 August to 3 September 2006. ... The 2008 FIFA U-20 Womens World Cup will be held in Chile from December 30, 2008 to January 17, 2009. ...

In 2008, FIFA will institute an under-17 world championship. The inaugural event will be held in New Zealand. 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... The FIFA U-17 Womens World Cup, scheduled for the first time in 2008, will be the world championship of football for female players under the age of 17. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Women's Football

• Women's sports
• Title IX
• List of football (soccer) players
• Women's football around the world
• Football pools
• Gracie (film)
• Bend it Like Beckham
• International competitions in women's football

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Womens sport(s) include amateur and professional competitions in virtually all sports. ... Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, now known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in honor of its principal author, but more commonly known simply as Title IX, is a 76-word United States law enacted on June 23, 1972 that states: No person... This article is concerned with Association football (soccer). ... While womens football (soccer) is not as high profile as mens football, with the possible exception of the United States, there are many countries around the world which do organise football for women on a national and club level. ... Football pools, often referred to as The Pools, are football betting pool based on predicting the outcome of male association football matches set to take place in the coming week. ... Promotional movie poster for the film Gracie (2007) is an American film, set to be released in the United States on June 1, 2007. ... Bend It Like Beckham is a British film released in 2002 in the UK and released in the United States in March 2003. ... This article lists all international competitions in womens football (soccer). ...

References

1. ^ Genesis of the Global Game. globalgame. Retrieved on May 22, 2006.
2. ^ The Chinese and Tsu Chu. The Football Network. Retrieved on May 1, 2006.
3. ^ ^{a b} The Scottish FA - "A Brief History of Women’s Football"
4. ^ "Football history: Winning ways of wedded women"
5. ^ ^{a b} The FA - "Women's Football- A Brief History"
6. ^ BBC Sport - "How women's football battled for survival"
7. ^ Women’s involvement with soccer was part of the emancipation process. SoccerTimes. Retrieved on May 4, 2006.
8. ^ BBC Sport - "Trail-blazers who pioneered women's football"
9. ^ ^{a b} University of Leicester fact sheet on women's football
10. ^ 1999 Women's World Cup Ticket Sales
11. ^ History in Asia
12. ^ [1]

External links

• FIFA Women's
• Women's World Football
• WomensFootball.eu - Women's football in Europe and the world
• Women Soccerway - global source for women's results and news
• femaleSOCCER.net - UK girls and women's football
• Fair Game Magazine site - source of information on British women's football
• W-League - USA professional women's soccer/football
• Women's United Soccer Association (historic content, now defunct - USA)
• Spanish Female soccer
• Women's Premier Soccer League (USA semi-pro)
• Upfront - a voice for female football fans
• FemaleFan
• Yahoo! Directory: Women's Football
• Pink Football's News on the Women's Game
• Directory of Women's and Girl's football Teams
• Women Football in Venezuela (South America)
• Women's 5 a-side leagues
• Women's Football History