Boro
Well-known member
May have been posted before but some pics on FB last year of local women's teams as we go into the world cup final. Women's football was huge early last century especially in the First World War when men were away. It was killed off when they came back.
Crowds could reach 50,000 in the cities for the big games or internationals. Here's a write up based on the Mbro council page last year:
On this day in 1918 more than 22,000 people went to Ayresome Park to watch the Bolckow Vaughan Steelworks ladies team of Middlesbrough take on their counterparts from Blyth Spartans Munitionettes in the final of the Tyne, Wear & Tees Munitionettes Cup. In the 1900s, Bolckow, Vaughan was the largest steel producer in Britain, and possibly the largest in the world. In 1905, the firm produced nearly 10% of Great Britain's pig iron output, and twice as much as the next largest producer. In 1907 it was one of the largest firms in Britain, with 20,000 employees. Bolckow, Vaughan owned 6 of the 36 ironstone mines in Cleveland, owned 4 of the 21 Teesside steelworks with 21 of the 91 blast furnaces.
Sadly BV lost the game 5-0, however the game became a symbol of changing attitudes. Due to the First World War women had stepped into roles in society which had previously been seen as being exclusively for men. After the conflict, it was downhill for the pioneering women’s football teams. In 1921 the Football Association banned women from playing at football league grounds, such as Ayresome Park. They even released this statement:
"Complaints have been made as to football being played by women, the council feel compelled to express their strong opinion that the game is quite unsuitable for women and ought to be discouraged."
The ban was in place for 50 years until 1971 when UEFA recommended the women’s game should fall under the umbrella of national football associations.
Middlesbrough has retained a strong affinity for women’s football with Middlesbrough Women FC being founded in 1976 and going stronger than ever today.
Crowds could reach 50,000 in the cities for the big games or internationals. Here's a write up based on the Mbro council page last year:
On this day in 1918 more than 22,000 people went to Ayresome Park to watch the Bolckow Vaughan Steelworks ladies team of Middlesbrough take on their counterparts from Blyth Spartans Munitionettes in the final of the Tyne, Wear & Tees Munitionettes Cup. In the 1900s, Bolckow, Vaughan was the largest steel producer in Britain, and possibly the largest in the world. In 1905, the firm produced nearly 10% of Great Britain's pig iron output, and twice as much as the next largest producer. In 1907 it was one of the largest firms in Britain, with 20,000 employees. Bolckow, Vaughan owned 6 of the 36 ironstone mines in Cleveland, owned 4 of the 21 Teesside steelworks with 21 of the 91 blast furnaces.
Sadly BV lost the game 5-0, however the game became a symbol of changing attitudes. Due to the First World War women had stepped into roles in society which had previously been seen as being exclusively for men. After the conflict, it was downhill for the pioneering women’s football teams. In 1921 the Football Association banned women from playing at football league grounds, such as Ayresome Park. They even released this statement:
"Complaints have been made as to football being played by women, the council feel compelled to express their strong opinion that the game is quite unsuitable for women and ought to be discouraged."
The ban was in place for 50 years until 1971 when UEFA recommended the women’s game should fall under the umbrella of national football associations.
Middlesbrough has retained a strong affinity for women’s football with Middlesbrough Women FC being founded in 1976 and going stronger than ever today.
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