Waterstones in Midsummer Place welcomed author Carrie Dunn on Friday night, to discuss the history of women's football in England.
“His-story“ seemed to be the word, with so much of the story of women’s football either unrecorded or obfuscated due to the misogynistic and patriarchal attitudes of past times.
"So many women were forced to use pseudonyms to protect their reputation that researching them has been very difficult and at times almost impossible," said Carrie, "That’s why it is so vital now, at this important time in the history of women’s football, that we record as much as possible before it is lost in the mists of time".
Event organiser Nikki Bloomer said: "We were privileged to have three of the so-called Lost Lionesses with us, who, at the ages of 13, 14 and 15, played at the unofficial 1971 Women’s World Cup in Mexico in an iconic stadium packed with 110,000 spectators.
"Instead of giving them caps, they received bans because, since 1921, football had been deemed ‘Unsuitable for women’".
Leah, Gill and Chris think that today’s successes are built on the shoulders of the many amazing women who over a span of over 120 years fought so hard to be permitted to play, and that the changes of the last few years, particularly since the introduction of the Super League and the success of the Lionesses this year, mean that the future is now bright with hope.
They feel that equality with the men’s game is now closer than ever before.
Pictured: Carrie (far right) with the Lionesses, Leah, Chris and Gill.
Copies of Carrie's book, Unsuitable For Females are available to purchase in store.
