This site is the most extensive collection of research into the early history of women's football. My interest in the subject began when I was researching how football managed to survive in north east England during the Great War. I came across many reports of games between teams of female munition workers, which were not mere kickabouts, but took place at prestigious venues such as St James's Park and Ayresome Park. This developed into a time-consuming but fascinating search through old newspaper archives, and conversations with descendants of some of the early female players. This is my tribute to those largely-forgotten soccer pioneers.
Books on the history of women's football
"Belles of the Ball" by David J Williamson
published by R&D Associates 1991, ISBN 0951751204 - a general history of women's football up to 1922.
"In a League of their Own" by Gail J Newsham
published by Scarlet Press 1997 (first published 1994), ISBN 1857270290 - the history of the Dick, Kerr Ladies
"The Dick, Kerr Ladies" by Barbara Jacobs
published by Constable and Robinson 2004, ISBN 1841198285
"The Munitionettes" by Patrick Brennan
published by Donmouth 2007, ISBN 9780955506307 - a detailed account of women's factory teams in north east England during WW1
"A Game for Rough Girls?" by Jean Williams
published by Routledge 2003, ISBN 0415263387 - a detailed sociological study of women's football
"Histoire du football féminin au XXe siècle" by Laurence Prudhomme-Poncet
published by L'Harmattan 2003, ISBN 2747547302 - the development of women's football in France (in French)
"Verlacht, verboten und gefeiert" by Eduard Hoffmann & Jürgen Nendza
published by Landpresse 2006, ISBN 9783935221528 - the development of women's football in Germany (in German)
"A Beautiful Game" by Jean Williams
published by Berg 2007, ISBN 9781845206758 - a collection of essays on the international development of women's football
Links to the history of women's football
Stu Ashton's history of the Aintree Ladies
