HISTORY OF WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

The woman, even though it might seem strange, has been important for the development and evolution of football.

There are records which show that as far back as the 12th century it was common for women to play ball games, especially in France and Scotland.
In 1963, a set of rules was put into action to prevent violence in the game and this was socially acceptable for women. In 1892, in Glasgow, Scotland, the first football game between women took place.
The most known document about the beginnings of female football dates from 1894 when Nettie Honeyball, an activist for the women's rights, funded the first British sports club called Ladies Football Club.

Honeyball, truly believing in her fight, said she wanted to demonstrate that women could reach emancipation and have an important place in society. Lady Florence Dixie has also played an important role in the development of the game because she organized exhibition games for charity and in 1895 became President of the British Ladies Football, stipulating that "the young girls should get into the spirit of the game with their heart and soul". In the same year she organized a team tour of Scotland to promote football among women and, at the same time, to make her team known.

The first world War was the key to the pinnacle of women's football in England, because, with the departure of many men to the battlefield, the woman was forced to work and many factories have created their own football teams, which until then were only the privilege of men.

However, at the end of the war, the Football Association did not recognize women's football, despite the success and popularity.

After the Word Cup of 1966, interest in women's football has grown so that the Football Association decided back in 1969 created from within the Association the Department's national football team.

Following, and in 1971, UEFA instructed their partners to manage and promote women's football and it was then that in Europe the football team was able to consolidate scone thereafter.

Nowadays, countries like England, Germany, Italy, USA and Japan have professional leagues whose popularity does not envy what is achieved by their similar male. And like in football men, also held the European Championship and world Cup.