In truth, it wasn't our idea. We were approached by a dad whose daughter was keen on the game, but couldn't find anywhere nearby to play. That year we were very pleased with ourselves when we managed to recruit half a dozen other girls to join our young pioneer and form a seven-a-side team.
Back in June, I went to watch the club's annual five-a-side competition. And I was astonished by what I saw. Across the park where it was being staged were 20 small pitches, each occupied by girls teams, dozens of them, representing clubs from across the county.
Speaking to the organiser, I was told that female football has grown exponentially. My old club now has 15 girls' and two women's teams. On a Saturday and Sunday during the season as many girls as boys turn out in the club's colours. This is a game that in 15 years has gone from an adjunct to the mainstream.
And what has rocket-fuelled the growth was England's victory in the Euros last summer. When Leah Williamson lifted the trophy inside an ecstatic Wembley, it irrevocably changed our attitude to women's football.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 16, 2023 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 16, 2023 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Old-school Dubois set on inheriting Taylor's throne
Caroline Dubois is unbeaten in 10 fights, has barely lost a round, she is the world champion, and nobody wants to fight her.
Forest canter past Wolves to continue unbeaten run
Nottingham Forest opened the door to a surprise Premier League title challenge after a sixth win in a row with a 3-0 victory at Wolves.
Life after Moyes a mess for incoherent Hammers side
As West Ham were defeated, they got a glimpse of what they have lost. David Moyes was at the Etihad Stadium, the scene of his last game as their manager. West Ham were beaten then, just as they were in Julen Lopetegui's latest match in charge.
Lessons learnt by United or just one more false dawn?
For large parts of his Manchester United career, Bruno Fernandes has appeared the answer. Now he posed the question.
From recession to rate cuts: 2025 economic predictions
I usually feel queasy when writing predictions for the year ahead.
London exchange exodus is a sign of US dominance
Last year saw the biggest outflow of companies from the London Stock Exchange since the global financial crisis. According to accountants EY, 88 companies, including Paddy Power owner Flutter, travel group Tui and Just Eat, abandoned the London market for US and European exchanges.
New blow as retailers warn of price hikes and job cuts
Keir Starmer faces a fresh Budget headache as retailers warn of higher prices and job cuts following disappointing sales in the crucial Christmas \"golden quarter\".
TALKING TRASH
From KKK brawls to the infamous man who married a horse’ episode, a new Netflix documentary delves into the story of The Jerry Springer Show’. Louis Chilton finds out more
Why the latest social media vogue is a fridge too far
Thought wall-to-wall beige and displaying books the wrong way round was bad? They’ve got nothing on fridgescaping’, the most unhinged Instagram trend yet, writes Helen Coffey
Drill, baby, drill': Big Oil is coming after electric vehicles
Have you ever gone back over your new year's resolutions from years ago and just thought, \"What was I thinking?\" Over the last year, it seems that Europe's biggest oil corporations did just that.
