A new exhibition that celebrates trailblazing women in football has launched this month at the Scottish Football Museum.
Opened on Saturday, the new exhibit at Hampden celebrates pioneering team Rutherglen Ladies FC who ‘defied a ban on women’s football to inspire future generations'.
READ MORE: Rangers' Alfredo Morelos visits Colombian wildlife art exhibition in Glasgow
During the 1920s and 1930s, Rutherglen Ladies FC’s players faced hardship thanks to public perceptions about women in sport and a total ban from playing in Scotland from the FA who deemed the game ‘quite unsuitable for females’ on December 5, 1921.
The exhibition traces the development of the team from its foundation in 1921 through to disbanding in 1939.
The information provided is based on new research by Dr Fiona Skillen, of Glasgow Caledonian University, and football historian Steve Bolton.
Dr Skillen, senior lecturer in history at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: "There's a perception that women's football didn't happen in Scotland between the Victorian period and the mid-1950s.
"This research shows that it did. We are rewriting the history books with our discoveries.
"Rutherglen Ladies showed incredible resolve and resilience and had to overcome significant barriers just to play the game.
"They deserve recognition for their unique place in history."
Playing in captains’ role for the team on their tour of Ireland was Sadie Smith, grandmother to renowned Scottish Singer Eddi Reader.
Speaking with pride at the exhibitions preview Reader said: “I am very proud of her.
I was taken aback when I found out because her footballing prowess was never mentioned.
“They got banned but they didn’t care and they continued to play. I like that punk attitude.”
The exhibition is funded Funded by Museums Galleries Scotland and will be in Glasgow for six months before touring venues all over the country.
For more information click here.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel