Join Professor Fiona Skillen to learn about Scottish women’s football during the First World War, from charity games to brawls on the field.
The first women’s football match played in Scotland under football association rules was held at Hibernian Park in 1881. The Scottish home side took the victory over England, with a final score of 3-0. After this early start, it was the impact of the First World War which saw the women’s game take off in popularity, with games drawing crowds large enough to fill Celtic Park.
In this talk, Fiona Skillen will discuss the proliferation of the women’s game— competitive matches, charity games and those played for fun during the 1914 to 1918 conflict. She will also explore the public reception of the women’s game, what players wore, who and where they played, and more.
Professor Fiona Skillen is a Professor of History within the Department of Social Science at the Glasgow School for Business and Society. Her research interests concern modern history, in particular aspects of sport, gender, health and changes in popular culture.
This event is part of the Women’s History Month programming organised by the National Library of Scotland. Click here for more information and free tickets
