| Women's football in England | |
|---|---|
 England national team during 2019 Women's World Cup. | |
| Country | England |
| Governing body | The Football Association |
| National team(s) | Women's national team |
National competitions | |
Club competitions | |
Divisions/leagues: Women's Super League Women's Championship FA Women's National League North FA Women's National League South Cups: FA Women's League Cup Women's FA Community Shield (2000–2008; 2020) Women's FA Cup | |
International competitions | |
Women's football has been played in England for over a century, sharing a common history with the men's game in the country in which the Laws of the Game were codified.[1]
Women's football was originally very popular in the early 20th century, but after being banned by the men's Football Association, its popularity declined. It took until the 1990s for the number of female players and spectators to increase, culminating in England hosting the Women's European Championships in 2005.[2][3][4]
- ^ "The Laws: From 1863 to the Present Day". FIFA. December 2012. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ^ "'Football is quite unsuitable for females' - The Irish Times - Sat, Jul 28, 2012". The Irish Times. 28 July 2012. Archived from the original on 10 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ "WOMENS EURO 2001 | Girls plea to be taken seriously". BBC Sport. 21 June 2001. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "Birmingham - Sport - Women's football popularity on the rise". BBC. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2012.