Football “Unfit for Females”

Lily Parr in action for England

In the week that saw the celebration of International Women’s Day and an Oscar for the Best Director go to a woman for the first time (although we would have been even happier if Sofia Coppolla had been the first), here’s a short film from the archives showing the “scandalous” behaviour of some young women back in 1921.

The English Football Association decided at that time that women should not be allowed to play football,  given their delicate constitution. They were  banned from playing on Association grounds, a restriction which remained in place for 50 years. During this time, many women continued to play on village greens and other land not associated with the Football Association. The more famous teams, such as Dick, Kerr’s Ladies, with their star Lily Parr, toured several countries, despite the fact that they were not always made welcome.

Notice that the word “fit” can have several meanings in English and that there are some plays on words in the text:

fit, adjective

# Suited, adapted, or acceptable for a given circumstance or purpose: This is not a fit time for humour.

# Appropriate; proper: Do as you see fit.

# Physically sound; healthy: He keeps fit with diet and exercise.

(from Answers.com)

Strange Random Women’s Quote:

Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. – Charlotte Whitton

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Dick, Kerr’s Ladies