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The history of women's football: everything you wanted to know

The history of women's football: everything you wanted to know

From 17th-century invasion games to the Euros-winning Lionesses, Jean Williams traces female footballers' long battle for recognition

Spencer Mizen

Published: July 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM

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Who was Nettie Honeyball? Why was the First World War a golden age for female factory teams? And why did the English Football Association move heaven and Earth to stamp them out? Speaking to Spencer Mizen as the women's Euros grips viewers, Jean Williams answers the big questions on the rollercoaster history of women's football - and female players' long battle for recognition.

Authors

Spencer MizenSenior production editor

Spencer is senior production editor of HistoryExtra magazine