Women's Winter Football Festival
This year marks 100 years since the FA banned women’s football from its clubs’ grounds in 1921. The ban, which wouldn’t be lifted for 50 years until 1971, changed the course of women’s football in England forever.
We want to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the lifting of the ban and the pioneers who kept the women’s game alive, choosing to challenge and overcome in the face of adversity by continuing to play the game on parks, school fields, rugby pitches – wherever they could find.
When does the festival take place?
Women's Winter Football Festival takes place on Sunday 5th December 2021, 12pm - 3pm.
Where is it at?
St Georges Park Thorncliffe, Pack Horse Lane, Sheffield, S35 3HY.
Why Should You Get Involved?
The festival is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate women's football.
There will be a host of activities taking place on the day:
- 5-a-side football festival
- Turn up and play pitch
- Christmas jumper competition
- Attend Leisure United Thorncliffe's Community Christmas Market
- Socialise afterwards while watching the women’s FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea.
Who should attend?
Everybody is welcome, whatever your level of ability, but we really want women to attend who:
- Have never played football before
- Have taken some time out from the game and are thinking about returning
- Are not registered to any football club
- Play for an existing women's recreational group
The festival is led by Sara Harnett, Women’s Recreational Football Officer at the Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA.
Sara said: “The festival is a great opportunity for women to come together and have fun while also reflecting on the history of women's football. There’s a generation of women that never had the chance to play football – mums, aunties, sisters, etc. – and it would be great to see these women playing football.
“On the day we will be running a football festival with prizes for the winning team, the most spirited team and the best Christmas jumper! So feel free to turn up in your funkiest Christmas sweater!
After the festival we will have food and refreshments and there will be a chance to socialise while watching the Women's FA Cup final.”
There will also be an opportunity to find out more about the Stoppage Time Project, which aims to recognise and celebrate women’s involvement in football in and around Sheffield and Rotherham from the 19th century to the present day.
To support the valuable work and ongoing development of the project, we are asking all teams to donate £10 to the Stoppage Time Project. The donation can be made via our online booking form.
If you want to play your part in marking the 50th anniversary of lifting of the ban, you can register to attend here: https://forms.gle/5YzWeXJZDGqnqfSg6
For more information on the Women’s Winter Football Festival, please contact Sara Harnett by emailing sara.harnett@sheffieldfa.com