Breaking the Grass Ceiling

The History of the Women's Football Association

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Breaking the Grass Ceiling unveils the inside story of the Women’s FA, tracing its creation and organisation from inception – as a result of the Deal Tournament for women in 1967 – to when it was formally handed over to the FA in 1993.

In 1921, the FA had banned women from playing on grounds under its control, but organisations interpreted this as a ban on women playing football altogether. And the result was exactly that: it did prevent women from playing the sport. Almost fifty years later, on 1 November 1969, the inaugural meeting of the Women’s FA took place. It was attended by forty-four clubs and seven leagues, forming the nucleus of the nascent association. Through the steadfast efforts of many men and women, the ban was finally lifted on 19 January 1970 and subsequently confirmed by the FA Council in 1971.

Featuring original research, behind-the-scenes details and personal perspectives from many of the players, Patricia Gregory tells the full story for the first time. She recounts the early days, as a voluntary workforce fought to establish a new sport; the development phase, as a national cup competition and official national team were founded; and the later years, which dealt with the constant battle to gain and maintain recognition. Breaking the Grass Ceiling highlights the unsung heroes of the past who worked tirelessly for the right of girls and women to play the game they loved, and in doing so laid the foundations for the teams of the future.

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