THE FA BAN
The FA Ban
The FA Ban
The Dick, Kerr Ladies had earned themselves the reputation as being the premier team in the land and the charities they were playing for, to quote the press, recognised 'what a little gold mine these girls were'. By 1921 the popularity of the team was at it's height and they were the ones that everyone wanted to see and had been booked to play an average of two games a week. They were even feted as the unofficial England team because of their superiority, but the Dick, Kerr Ladies were soon to become victims of their own success. On 5 December 1921, the FA banned ladies football and unanimously passed the following resoloution, effectively changing the course of the women's game forever.
"Complaints having been made as to football being played by women, the Council feel impelled to express their strong opinion that the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged.
Complaints have also been made as to the conditions under which some of these matches have been arranged and played, and the appropriation of receipts to other than charitable objects.
The Council are further of the opinion that an excessive proportion of the receipts are absorbed in expenses and an inadequate percentage devoted to charitable objects.
For these reasons the Council request clubs belonging to the association to refuse the use of their grounds for such matches".
Among the opinions from the medical profession who came out in support of the FA, Dr Elizabeth Sloan Chesser said: "There are physical reasons why the game is harmful to women. It's a rough game at any time, but it is much more harmful to women than men. They may receive injuries from which they may never recover".
Doctor Mary Scharlieb, a Harley Street Physician said, "I consider football a most unsuitable game, too much for a womans frame".
Mr Eustace Miles said, "I consider football quite an inappropriate game for most women, especially if they haven't been medically tested first".
Naturally, the girls were devastated and thought that the FA had taken this decision because they were drawing bigger crowds than some of the mens games, they thought they were jealous. It was perfectly acceptable for the female frame to do any manual task to keep the country going during the War, but to suggest that playing football could affect their fertility and that they were actually too delicate to play, was nothing less than insulting.
And regarding the allegations on the financial side of things, the girls had no control over the monies taken at the matches. They only ever received expenses for travel, accommodation and loss of time at work. They were NOT paid to play football, and in no way did they regard themselves as professional, semi professional or otherwise. They played football for the love of the game and to raise money for charity.
Alice Kell said, "Girls have a right to play football if they desire. We play for the love of the game and are determined to go on. It is absolutely impossible for working girls to afford to leave work to play matches in Scotland, Ireland and up and down the country and be the losers. I can see not the slightest reason why they should not be recompensed for loss of time".
All the protests fell on deaf ears of course, but the Dick, Kerr Ladies fought on against all adversity to continue to play football and raise money for charity until 1965. This is what makes them stand out from other women's teams, they were the only one to keep going against all the odds. They were a great team and deserve to be remembered for all their achievments.
The ban remained in place for almost fifty years and it has taken a long time for women's football to grow. But grow it has, and we are now seeing the fruits of all those players, from every team, and every generation, who kept the flame alive during those dark and difficult times.
Women's football is now thriving and has a great fan base. We have come a long way. But we now have a greater sense of our own history, and hopefully this wonderful and unique history will help as we progress in to the future. No other country in the world has a history so rich, so let's celebrate all that we have and never forget where we have come from.