The rise, fall, and rise again of women's football – a 140-year history

Rise of women's football
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Women’s football is now flourishing around the world, with clubs and nations embracing one of the fastest-growing sports. But it hasn’t always been that easy. Whether it be resentment from supporters or even the national associations themselves, the women’s game has had to continually break down endless barriers, from its inception in the 19th century to today.

Whether it be the early boom the women’s game enjoyed, some of the legendary early trailblazers of the sport or the modern-day superstars we now know, the women’s game has gone from strength to strength, but still experiences challenges and prejudices despite its ever-growing global appeal.

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Rich Laverty has been a women’s football writer for a decade now, covering the game across the FA WSL, several FA Cup finals and live from the 2017 European Championships and 2019 World Cup. He has written regularly for publications in the UK and USA, including The Times, Guardian, Independent, iSport, FourFourTwo, Bleacher Report, The Blizzard, These Football Times and Our Game Magazine.