A mini report by the Colours Shine team from Broad Oak Primary School – taken from Everycolour 2017
Football was played in England in medieval times. The ball was even made from a pig’s bladder.
The game became organised with rules in the nineteenth century and women’s football was popular in Scotland.
A women’s team from England, led by Nettie Honeyball, travelled in 1881 to play a Scottish team. A riot broke down at one match, which was watched by 5000 people. After this, women were banned from playing football in Scotland.
Scottish footballer Mrs Graham in 1895. Image: Public Domain
Because of the ban, Helen Graham Matthews, who led the Scottish team, moved to England and set up her own team called Mrs Graham’s XI.