FA Respond to Lily Parr Trophy Game
Andi, 11 February 2008 14:31
Statement by the FA on 8.2.08 in response to Lily Parr
Trophy Game
Lucy Faulkner, Equality Manager at The Football Association said
"In
1921 The FA requested that clubs belonging to the Assocation
should
refuse the use of their grounds for matches played by women with
the
purpose of raising charitable funds. Furthermore, they stated that
'the
game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to
be
encouraged'.
The damage this did to the women's game is hard to calculate but I
am
confident that with the support and investment of The FA in
women's
football in 2008, the sport will continue to go from strength
to
strength."
The FA now has almost 150,000 affiliated players and 8,500 teams
across
the country, and all of them owe a debt to the pioneer players from
the
1920's, including the women from Dick, Kerr Ladies. It's 30 years
since
the death of one of their star players - Lily Parr who scored 43
goals
in her first season with the club as a 14 year old. She became the
first
woman to be inducted into the National Football Museum's Hall of
Fame
and continues to be a role model for female players to this
day.
Trevor Brooking, The FAs Director of Football Development commented
" I
am immensely proud of our female players today and the skills
they
demonstrate on the pitch, we are determined to raise standards
still
further in the women's game and have invested with Tesco's in 66
Skills
Coaches to ensure that one million youngsters aged 5-11 develop
better
techniques. Many of these will be young girls and we are aiming to
train
the next generation of women like Lily Parr - fit and skilful
players
respected for their footballing ability."
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