The shameful treatment of pioneer women footballers 50 years ago is the subject of a new documentary Copa 71, which is screening now.
Rapturous crowds of over 100,000 fans cheered 18 year old Carol Wilson as she captained England at the 1971 women’s football World Cup in Mexico.
The experience was a stark contrast to the reception she and other women players received at home.
The UK Football Association, which had banned women from playing for 50 years, refused to endorse the tournament and tried to shut it down.
To this day the team Carol represented is not recognised by the FA as an official England team, which has earned them the moniker of ‘The Lost Lionesses’.