Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

England vs Spain: Women’s Euro 2025 Final

I spent most of the afternoon with Europe’s “The Final Countdown” in my head. Joey Tempest and his rock -star hair were haunting me all afternoon. The perfect way to enjoy the build up for a huge game. Yes, England were through to the final of the UEFA Women’s Euro Final in Basel, Switzerland. What were the chances? What is the history? What is the background?

I remembered a text conversation I had with Clare McEwen earlier this week. It’s from the National Archives, “In light of England’s semi-final victory in the Euros last night, we share this incredible Victorian photo from our collection. The British Ladies Football Club was established in 1895. Players were recruited via newspaper ads and two teams were formed, named North and South (pictured here).
The teams travelled the country playing each other in a series of matches, including at Crouch End and Greenwich in London, as well as Hartlepool, Burnley, Montrose and Belfast. The matches aroused great attention, with their first game at Crouch End attracting 10,000 spectators.

Head to our blog to find out more: https://linktr.ee/thenationalarchives ” ….and I do indeed recommend a read. What a fascinating history.

For those who don’t know Clare, she is “Ms. England Women’s Football” my go-to for everything about the women’s game and a huge font of knowledge. She recently published a definitive history of the game. View here

So, that’s a little background. In this year’s competition, it is fair to say that things had not been as smooth as England would have wanted but they showed incredible resilience in tough games against Sweden, France and Italy. The girls were in top gear against Wales and the highly-rated Netherlands but the defeat to France showed we are not invincible.

On paper, the game could have gone either way. Fortunately, as we all know, the game is not played on paper but both sides could have had reasons to feel confident before kick off. England were the holders and had “done it.” They had also fought back from the absolute brink of defeat against Sweden and Italy. The way they demolished the Dutch showed they had more than a passing understanding of commitment and determination. However, the Spanish have played magnificent football and have some outstanding players including Aitana Bonmatí and Patri Guijarro whose stats for this competition are phenomenal. The Spanish team had also swept past both the Italians and the Germans ….. and put a dozen goals past Belgium and Portugal!

The game itself delivered everything we could have expected. Sadly although it was a sell-out crowd, the Swiss stadium only accommodates less than 35,000 spectators. For millions of other we had to be content with the TV. I was often minded of Pep Guardiola and his “tiny margins.” Did one team deserve to lose? Debatable, but that is the nature of cup football and I think everyone will agree that on the day England were worthy winners. Are penalties cruel? Obviously for the losers. Did some of Spain’s players freeze on the big stage? I think that’s maybe unfair but clearly….history will remember the winners. Football was the winner. Let’s leave it like that. It has been a fantastic competition with every single nation adding value and whilst winning the ultimate prize eluded 15 teams, I am sure their countries are proud of them.

It would be rude not to share Clare’s excitement: “I’m so thrilled and excited by England’s win last night. Incredible. Only the second team to win back-to-back Euros (Germany the other) and this will again increase the visibility in England and the rest of the UK, hopefully increasing commercial opportunities and strengthening infrastructure. Another group of young girls gets to fall in love with the beautiful game. England have built on their legacy and we can all be so proud of what the Lionesses have done and continue to represent.”

I also managed to get hold of Vernon Grant who like me has lived in Hounslow and Spain. From the frying pan of Andalucia he adds some thoughts.

BACKGROUND: In 1995 TV Producer Vernon Grant was contacted by an American client who wanted him to produce a series of videos after the women’s European Championship final in March of 1995. Germany won. Three months later the women’s World Cup was staged in Sweden. America had won the very first women’s World Cup four years earlier. Norway won it in 1995.

Vernon says: “I asked the experienced football commentator John Helm, a long time friend, to voice over the commentaries. All he and I had to go on was team sheets. For World Cup commentaries John learned how to pronounce some difficult names (China were a decent side). I fell in love with USA star player Mia Hamm. Ex TV colleagues laughed at me when I told them what I was working on. They couldn’t believe anyone was interested in women playing football. But the American client told me that it was popular in the States. Attendances were nothing like what we have just seen at the 2025 tournament. Indeed, back then there was just one England fan, a London taxi driver, following what we now call the Lionesses around the world. It’s wonderful to see how excited young girls are by the success of the Lionesses today. And those ex colleagues who mocked what I was working on thirty years ago. They’re not laughing now. They’re celebrating.”

Thanks, Vernon. Fascinating backstory!

Sarina Wiegman congratulates Ella Toone in an earlier game.

One last word from me? I am hugely impressed with Wiegman. She is obviously a great motivator and, whilst her tactical knowledge cannot be questioned, it is perhaps most her ability to get the very best out of every single member when they tread the grass. If things do not go quite as planned, she is never afraid to change mid-game to ensure that the desired result is achieved. #respect

CONNECTED BY OUR NATURE –BRENTFORD FC UNVEIL 2025/26 AWAY KIT

Brentford FC’s new 2025/26 away kit celebrating our relationship with the bee is now on sale in the new club store, The Hive Superstore and online.

Brentford FC has launched the club’s new away kit for the 2025/26 season in partnership with official kit partner, Joma.

Celebrating the bee 

The new away kit celebrates Brentford’s connection with the bees which goes back to the early part of the twentieth century. 

The new brown away shirt features gold coloured detailing and marks the first time the club has used our single Brentford bee logo. It features a bee-wing pattern throughout the shirt. Gold detailing is also seen across the collar which has a special ‘Bees’ logo on the back, as well as the sleeves.   

The authentic shirt is created with a jacquard weave. Intricate designs are woven directly into the fabric rather than being printed or embroidered. This technique and the micro-mesh ventilation panels keep the kit lightweight and breathable, so our players’ bodies stay dry even during peak performance. To support our efforts to be more sustainable, our replica away shirts are made of 100 per cent recycled polyester. Using recycled polyester prevents materials from being sent to landfills and requires less energy than conventional polyester.    

The away men’s first team shirt features this season’s front of shirt partner, Hollywoodbets and Cazoo as our sleeve partner. Kits for our Brentford B team, Brentford Women and academy teams will have Cazoo as the main shirt sponsor and feature PensionBee on the sleeve. 

Connected by our nature 

Our new away shirt launches with a campaign film paying homage to our history as ‘The Bees’. Men’s first team players, Mikkel Damsgaard, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Michael Kayode and Brentford Women players, Nikki Woods and Lucy Potter all feature in the film set in the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.  

Looking ahead to the new season, the film draws inspiration from the buff-tailed bumblebee, the bee that is featured within our crest. Its traits of resilience, adaptability, determination, purpose, and connection mirror the spirit we bring to the pitch and our community. 

The narrative celebrates the hive-like unity of the club and our supporters – a unified collective where every individual plays an important role. Just like bees working together for protection, regeneration, and success.  

Purchase your away shirt 

As with our centenary home shirt, our away shirt adult price is frozen at £65 in our ongoing commitment to affordable football. Junior shirts will also be available at a reduced price of £45, down from the 2024/25 season.  

In line with the Premier League’s voluntary ban on front-of-shirt gambling sponsors, like our home shirt, this season’s away kit will follow a one-year cycle as our partnership with front of shirt partner, Hollywoodbets comes to an end after the 2025/26 season.  

Purchase your 2025/26 Brentford away shirt now 

Yesterday we talked about Huddersfield Town’s new Castore strip and today we look at Forest Green Rovers. I am a bit challenged on this. I LOVE the sustainability focus but I am afraid that the design is in my opinion absolutely hideous. Let’s see what their fans think!

“Forest Green Rovers, widely recognised as the most sustainable football club in the world, reveals a bold new playing strip for the 25-26 season. Alongside Official Teamwear Partner, Reflo, both organisations have been working hard with the Vegan Society to create the world’s first fully certified vegan kit.

Both the home and away kits feature the same bold design; a striking leopard print pattern inspired by nature.

The new home shirt will be worn for two seasons, part of a commitment the club makes to reduce waste and lower the burden on fans to purchase a new design every year.

The vegan kit is emblazoned with Ecotricity across the chest, DPD on the lower back, Candriam on the left sleeve, and Smyths Toys on the back of the shorts.

Below the neck features the infamous Three Stars. This reflects the club’s long term ambitions to gain promotion into the championship.

As well as being vegan certified, the new kit is powered by Reflo’s pioneering Reloop™ technology — a fibre-to-fibre mechanical recycling solution that means every shirt is made from recycled mono-fibre materials and designed to be fully recyclable at end of life. When the kit reaches the end of its playing days, it will be broken down and remade into new products, giving fans and players a true circular alternative to landfill. It’s a practical solution to help tackle the millions of tonnes of textile waste generated by the sports industry each year.

Dale Vince, Chairman of Forest Green Rovers, commented: “We like to push the boundaries on sustainability issues, including what our shirts are made from because the materials we use to make things really matters. In pursuit of the most sustainable football kit we’ve experimented in previous seasons with both bamboo and with coffee grounds.

“This season our new strip pushes the boundary again – we’ve created the world’s first fully certified vegan football kit, by making sure the dyes we use, which are an often overlooked ingredient, are plant-based. Our new shirt is also fully recyclable and will be turned back into future items by Reflo. I’m really pleased to unveil our bold, bright new kit that’s inspired by nature and helping nature – that’s pretty fabulous.”

Alex Markland, Senior Account Manager at The Vegan Society: “This is another exciting development in The Vegan Society’s relationship with Forest Green Rovers. We’ve been working with Dale and the team for eight years and have awarded our Vegan Trademark certification in a number of areas of the club’s operations but this kit is the first in the world to be certified vegan and is the most visible demonstration yet of Forest Green Rovers’ pioneering approach to sustainability in football.”

Rory MacFadyen, Co-Founder of Reflo, said: “This is exactly what Reflo was built for — pushing what’s possible for sustainable performancewear. Partnering with Forest Green Rovers to create the world’s first fully vegan shirt, made from recycled materials with the ability to be recycled at end of life. It’s a milestone moment for us. FGR have led the way in showing football can be a force for good, and we’re proud to help them take another step forward with a shirt that looks amazing, performs at the highest level and helps keep kit out of landfill for good.”

The kit is available to buy from the FGR online store with more information at reflo.com.

Well, this a nice “happy” bit of news. Huddersfield Town have a new shirt sponsor for 2025/2026 and thankfully it is not a betting company or some dubious international financial institution.

– Global casual footwear brand HEYDUDE become Principal Partner for next three seasons
– Largest commercial shirt sponsorship deal for Town to be signed outside of Premier League

We are excited to announce a new principal partnership with global casual footwear brand HEYDUDE, who will feature as our front of shirt sponsor for the next three seasons!

The international footwear brand come on board as the front of shirt sponsor for at least the next three seasons, with Town’s Men’s and Women’s teams wearing the HEYDUDE logo across their shirts for the duration of the agreement.

HEYDUDE, initially founded in Italy in 2008 and now a part of Crocs Inc., is well known for its quality, casual footwear that provides lightweight comfort at an accessible price point.

Specifically, the brand’s iconic Wendy and Wally silhouettes have become fan favourite styles for wearing pre- and post-sporting activity and have already established some iconic brand ambassadors in the US in the form of the two-time Emmy nominated actress Sydney Sweeney and NFL cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter.

Huddersfield Town Chief Executive Officer Jake Edwards commented:

“As one of the fastest growing casual footwear brands in the United States, HEYDUDE has a rapidly growing consumer fanbase who – much like Huddersfield Town supporters – are deeply passionate and pride themselves on being part of a shared community with aligned values and purpose.

“This partnership with our Club is an important milestone for the brand as it looks to expand HEYDUDE Country internationally, with dedicated focus in the UK”.

Michael Anthes, Senior Vice President & General Manager International, HEYDUDE said:

“We are thrilled to join forces with Huddersfield Town Football Club as their Principal Partner. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to launch the HEYDUDE brand into the UK market, as we have seen how the Club shares our dedication to fandom and community, as well as growth and franchise expansion.

“We look forward to a future of shared victories both on and off the pitch and creating moments that are Unlike Anything!”

Huddersfield Town Chief Revenue Officer Paul Reeves added:

“We set out at the start of the year to continuously develop our commercial reach and work with global brands.

“As a result of our connections to the United States, we are extremely proud to be able to announce this innovative new partnership with HEYDUDE, who are a fast growing and vibrant business that appeal to a family audience and provide a wide range of footwear for men, women and children.

“Their long-term commitment demonstrates their confidence in our ambitions to progress the football club both on and off the pitch.”

The timing is significant as the Club celebrates the 100-year Thrice Champions anniversary of winning three top-flight consecutive league titles.

For more information and to view the HEYDUDE product range visit www.heydude.uk.

Huddersfield Town (H) 2025-2026

Huddersfield Town (3rd) 2025-2026

With the season just a few days away (although Chelsea are still playing LAST season in the Club World Cup!), the new shirts are coming through fast and furious. As we have come to expect over the past few years, there is a collection of traditional, modern, just plain odd ….and horrific. As it is subjective, I will let everyone make their decisions!

Here is a mini gallery:

Genoa

Oxford United – history preserved and a nice, clean design

Walton&Hersham, in a cafe

Scotland – A Nice Collage

West Bromwich Albion Away, The best I have seen this Summer

Wrexham – Nice and Traditional

Maybe the story of the Summer is at Watford where even the club itself is (meekly) making a stand against the sponsor’s blue logo. They say, “On-pitch, players’ shirts will feature front of shirt sponsorship from MrQ, though, mindful that the new, blue MrQ Casino logo may not reflect the values or preferences of all supporters, the shirt will once again be available to buy unbranded.”

Last season the MrQ Casino was black and the shirt was well thought of both at the club and amongst fans. This season the blue all across the front is almost uniformly derided. I admire the club for speaking out and potentially prejudicing the sponsorship arrangement. Interesting days!

…and in another story of discontent, the new Brentford shirt has definitely not been universally applauded.

I first heard about theKlub only recently and thought it was a great idea. It would have been absolutely ideal for Bjorn as he travelled from Norway to South Africa and even more so for me as I cycyled around the UK. Knowing I have lots of cyclists and others interested in similar, I realised it would be worthwhile adding.

“Finding the right place to stay as an active traveller isn’t easy. Some hotels might say they’re “sport-friendly,” but that often just means they won’t bat an eye at muddy trainers or a yoga mat in reception.

Move Well, Stay Better. Hotel curations for the active traveller.

We’ve all been there. The hotel that claims to support athletes, but has nowhere to store your bike, no early breakfast before a race, no spa to unwind after a long hike, or nowhere nearby to play padel without a 30-minute drive.

theKlub is here to change that.

We handpick hotels that are built for movement. Places that understand what it means to travel for a purpose — to ride, to train, to hike, to stretch, to sweat — and recover in comfort. Whether you’re heading to a triathlon training camp, planning a padel weekend with friends, or just want to hike somewhere wild without compromising on comfort, we’ve got you covered.

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On a Mission to Keep You Moving

We used to work all year just to lie still on a beach. Not anymore.

Today’s travellers want to feel energised, not just rested. The “Doing to Relax” era is on — and we’re here for it.

theKlub is built for people who want to move. Whether it’s performance training or mindful recovery, we make it easier to find high-quality stays that support your lifestyle.

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Why Active Travellers Choose theKlub

No matter your sport, our hotels are curated to match.

For Cyclists

• Secure bike storage
  
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• Pool access or open-water nearby
  
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• Hotels with on-site courts or close club access
  
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• Dedicated yoga spaces and classes
  
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To celebrate our partnership, theKlub is offering an exclusive 5% discount to help you experience it for yourself.

Claim your 5% welcome voucher and unlock members-only rates on curated, sport-friendly hotels — just use the code GEARUP5 when you sign up.

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Join the Movement

Whether you’re planning a race weekend, a yoga retreat, a padel trip, or a week of hiking in the mountains, let theKlub simplify your stay — so you can focus on the good stuff.

Move. Recover. Repeat. 

Travel simpler with theKlub.“

Many of you will know that I have been supportive of Prostate Cancer UK for many years. It was therefore obvious that I would try to assist Jason Yeo as soon as I heard of his incredible initiative.

He wrote, “Good morning. I am after your help pretty please to help promote our charity campaign for PSA Prostate Cancer Testing.

We have our football advertising boards now going up in grounds across the UK, to take our message to 100000+, but we need to keep pushing.

Can you help us get our boards up in your clubs??

Prostate Cancer affects 1 in 8, including myself, and is now the most diagnosed cancer in the UK.

We need to raise awareness for testing, and the visibility of our campaign.

Huge, huge thanks to the clubs for their amazing support

Our success so far:

Plymouth Argyle

Rushall Olympic

Buckland Athletic

Stoke Gabriel

Launceston FC

Clitheroe FC

Ipplepen Athletic

In discussions with:

Shrewsbury Town

Maidstone United

Newton Spurs

Please let’s spread our campaign to all.

We are saving lives, we want to save 1000’s of lives by promoting the need for testing.

Let’s persuade your club to support our campaign

And if you see our boards please share photos to your social media to keep promoting.

Have a great season guys.”

So, if you are involved at management level with any club and would like more details, please do get in contact with Jason

I mentioned it here that Brentford have a new kit partner and the launch is now official

100 YEARS IN RED AND WHITE – BRENTFORD LAUNCHES 2025/26 HOME KIT  

Brentford FC’s new 2025/26 home kit, marking 100 years of the club’s iconic red and white stripes is available now online and from 9am tomorrow in-store with the replica shirt price frozen at £65 for adults and reduced for juniors at £45. Our first-ever player authentic shirt will retail at £95. The first 100 junior shirts are available at Bees Superstore tomorrow for £19.25

Brentford has unveiled the club’s home kit for the 2025/26 season in partnership with new official kit partner Joma Sport S.A. 

The 2025/26 home kit proudly celebrates 100 years of Brentford’s players in red and white.  

In a club first, our men’s first team will wear a specially produced shirt for enhanced performance on the pitch known as our ‘authentic shirt’. Bees fans will have the choice of purchasing an authentic shirt worn by their favourite players, as well as a replica shirt.  

A red and white lineage 

Celebrating a century of Brentford in red and white, the new home shirt provides a modern but nostalgic take on the club’s iconic stripes. The classic collar, inspired by our original 1925 kit lace design connects this season’s shirt with our rich heritage. Our special ‘100’ centenary logo also features on the back of the shirt. Inside the collar, a commemorative ‘red & white 1925 & 2025’ printed detail offers a nod to our legacy. 

Our first authentic kit will provide our men’s team with innovative sportswear helping elevate performance on the pitch. The kit is created with a jacquard weave. Intricate designs are woven directly into the fabric rather than being printed or embroidered. This technique and the micro-mesh ventilation panels keep the kit lightweight and breathable, so our players’ bodies stay dry even during peak performance. The shirt has flat seams to enhance comfort for players.  

While our replicas have red and stripes across the back, the authentic kit features a red block to show player names and numbers clearly, in line with new Premier League regulations.  

This year’s shorts and socks include unique styling details as part of marking 100 years of red and white. Shorts feature a red stripe on the left and white stripe on the right, while socks are embroidered with ‘1925’ in reference to our original kit.  

Reflecting our commitment to sustainability, both the authentic and replica kits are made from 100 per cent recycled polyester, which helps reduce our environmental impact. Using recycled polyester prevents materials from being sent to landfills and requires less energy than conventional polyester.   

The men’s first team shirt features our principal partner, Hollywoodbets on the front, and Cazoo as our sleeve partner. Brentford Women, Brentford B team and junior shirts see Cazoo as our front-of-shirt partner and PensionBee on the sleeve. 

Keeping football affordable 

Fans can purchase both authentic and replica kits online now and in the Bees Superstore from 9am tomorrow.  

In line with our continued commitment to making football more affordable, the club has frozen the price of the adult 2025/26 replica shirts at £65. Junior shirts will be available at a reduced price of £45, down from last season. 

To celebrate the centenary year, the first 100 junior replica shirts sold in the Bees Superstore tomorrow will be priced at just £19.25 (limited to two per transaction*). Initially, infant kits (ages six to 24 months) and junior mini kits (ages three to six) will only be available in-store (from tomorrow). These kits will be released online soon, and we will inform fans when they are available to purchase.

Marking 100 years of red and white, and with our Hollywoodbets partnership ending after 2025/26 in line with the Premier League’s voluntary ban on front-of-shirt gambling sponsors, this season’s kit will follow a one-year cycle. Next season, our intention is to return to a two-year cycle to keep our kits affordable and sustainable, subject to our partnership agreements. 

Side by side, since 1925 

From unforgettable goals to our legendary players, to our unwavering support from fans and historic wins, the home kit launches with a campaign film tracing moments in Brentford’s history over the last 100 years. 

The film features Igor Thiago, Nathan Collins, Keane Lewis-Potter, Gustavo Nunes and Kevin Schade from our men’s first team and Brentford Women players, including Ashley Cheatley and Regan Graver. Legends such as Allan Cockram, Marcus Gayle, Amy Crook and Karleigh Osborne and some of our fans all make an appearance. 

Fran Jones, Brentford’s commercial director said: “We’re very proud to launch a centenary home kit that recognises Brentford’s history of wearing red and white stripes. This is our first shirt with our new kit partner Joma and includes our first-ever player authentic shirt, giving our fans more choice than ever before.”  

Steve Watts, Brentford’s marketing services director added: “This season we chose to mark 100 years of both our trademark stripes and our incredible supporters remaining side-by-side, through the more challenging times, to the Premier League and an exciting future. 

“A commitment to affordable football remains at the heart of Brentford’s values. We hope frozen adult prices and reduced junior prices enable as many of our fans as possible to enjoy wearing this shirt which marks a new era for the club.” 

Marina López, CEO of Joma Sport, stated: “We are very proud to present the first kit that Joma has developed for Brentford at such a special moment as the centenary of the red and white shirt. Furthermore, we do so by bringing our added value: cutting-edge technology, exceptional quality, and a strong commitment to sustainability.” 

Our centenary home kit can be purchased online now or in the Bees Superstore

*Find out more about our Bees Superstore junior shirt offer. 

I was talking with the Shirt’s great friend, Dave Baldwin at Papilios Creative this week and he mentioned he had added a couple of new stadiums to his portfolio. I would be rude of me not to showcase them.

So, here we have for example Lords Cricket Ground (above), Everton’s new stadium and a new Villa Park. (New watercolour and not new built stadium to confirm!) I thought Wycombe’s Adams Park was especially impressive.

All are available from his website and, of course, when you are there do check the Priestfield Stadium which is obviously his greatest work and I imagine you will want it over your bed, in your study or your man-cave! All true lovers of the beautiful game will be fighting for a signed print, I am sure!

These prints make a great present or a truly unique souvenir of a visit. You can see his entire portfolio here Enjoy!

EDIT: apologies, Dave. I said I would confirm that Dave can do a similar work of art for your stadium. From the biggest to the smallest grounds, Dave can make something beautiful. Ask him via his website or Facebook

Well, it looks like summer is here as the mercury passes 30degrees. It is an important summer of football and first off, I must congratulate the England U21 for winning the Euro 21 Championship or the UEFA European Under-21 Championship to give it its full title. The Young Lions beat Germany 3-2 in the final and Liverpool’s Harvey Elliot walked away with the Player of the Tournament trophy as well. The tragedy is that he comes from Chertsey which is pretty much walking distance to my beloved FC Deportivo Galicia at Heathrow. Our scouts missed that one! I think QPR and Fulham’s scouts might be uneasy too!

No mention here of the Club World Cup in South Canada/North Mexico which is gathering precisely zero interest among fans in England. I have not seen a single match so far, opting to watch paint dry instead.

So, congratulations to Lee Carsley and his young men. Winning it in 2021 was impressive and to win it for a second time, elevates him to almost legendary status.

Sarina Wiegman

Meanwhile the Lionesses are off to Switzerland with  Sarina Wiegman for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland. There are high hopes after all the recent success but first of all they have to escape a “Group of Death with Wales, France and the Netherlands. Then they would have to navigate one of Poland, Denmark, Sweden or Germany! So, they are going to have to do it the hard way.

In honour of the tournament, the BBC One Show managed to track down all the members of the squad Harry Batt took to Mexico. He managed the British Independents, an unsanctioned women’s national team that represented England at the unofficial 1971 Women’s World Cup and was banned for life from football by the Football Association (FA). Some of these ladies had not seen each other in 48 years. It was obviously emotional for them but it just shows how far the Women’s game has come in the past 50 years. Batt was barred from football sine die and the players themselves got three month bans because the FA did not want the women playing football. Quite incredible!

It focused on the Storyville documentary “In August 1971, football teams from England, Argentina, Mexico, France, Denmark and Italy gathered in Mexico City for a watershed tournament. With lavish sponsorship, extensive TV coverage, merchandise on every street corner and over 100,000 roaring fans at the historic Azteca stadium, media outlets treated the players like rock stars. 

Despite being one of the most groundbreaking moments in footballing history, most people have never heard of it – because the players were all women. 

This is the extraordinary story of an extraordinary tournament, told through the fearless voices of the women who took part and including recently uncovered and never-seen-before archive footage. 

The tournament was the flame that lit the touch paper for the explosion of women’s football around the globe and in the UK. It was one of the catalysts that led to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final, when England beat Germany 2-1.”

… and being as this site is about shirts, here are the Nike tops. The white, I quite like. The black? No, just no!