Did anyone watch ..

[In the box]

On the bbc iPlayer the programme is called Storyville about the “Copa71” the undocumented Woman’s World Cup . Played in Mexico with crowd of over 100.000.. worth  a watch as it just shows how woman have had to claw their game to where it is now ..

[BobG]

I did ITB. It's well known that the FA completely shut dowbn ladies football - after a pretty succesful period too. The FA, as ever, were, and are poor a management organisation. You only have to think of the HUGE talent in English ladies footer in the 80's and 90's and the resounding disinterest of the FA to recognise that. Even Sir Alex commented, very positively indeed, on the huge talent of Gillian Coultard. I watched her. She was streets better than any Rovers midfielder of the time - vision, control, power, strength. If she'd been a man she'd have been a good player in the Prem. But she got nowt, nowt at all, from the FA.

BobG

[Iberian Red]

I did ITB. It's well known that the FA completely shut dowbn ladies football - after a pretty succesful period too. The FA, as ever, were, and are poor a management organisation. You only have to think of the HUGE talent in English ladies footer in the 80's and 90's and the resounding disinterest of the FA to recognise that. Even Sir Alex commented, very positively indeed, on the huge talent of Gillian Coultard. I watched her. She was streets better than any Rovers midfielder of the time - vision, control, power, strength. If she'd been a man she'd have been a good player in the Prem. But she got nowt, nowt at all, from the FA.

BobG

I haven't seen it,but I'm still bitter and angry about the powers that be shafting us for the sake of Man City.
On the theme of documentaries, there's a great one on Netflix,'El Capitan,Rafa Marquez'.
Contributions from some of the best players we've seen in the last 30 years or so.

[scawsby steve]

Bloody well said, all the above posts.

I'm a massive fan of women's football. The game's oozing with talent.

[Drover]

Not watch this yet,but will do,I have watched a documentry a couple of times about how the FA shut down womens football because basically they started getting very popular and they was worried in some circumstances they would get bigger crowds than the mens games,absolutely stinks,like the Postmasters scandal,Police actions at Hillsborough disaster,Man city ladies and MK Dons given league status without earning it like every other clubs has too,Stevenage refused promotion to the football league because they didnt have necessary work done despite not knowing if they will get promoted or not,and the necessary work would be done before the season started if they waited until after confirmation of promotion,they then went to court and won but it was too late for them to be promoted but their actions meant the rules changed and the likes of Luton town benefited because they didnt have to get the necessary work done until they knew whether promoted or not,I try not to think about it,because the injustice of it all makes my blood boil,Im going to open a bottle of Bud(20 for £10 in tesco on offer if anyone interested) and calm down now. 

[graingrover]

Calling all Donny fans .If you are not yet fully aware of how important Donny Belles were to women’s football and how good they were I recommend you try to get a copy of the biographical ‘ I fell in love with the Belles ‘ It’ll make any Doncastrian proud.Down to earth they were but played like stars .

[BobG]

That book cost me a nights' kip Graing. It's a bloody good read, it's a bloody good story, and it's a bloody good Donny side. Kaz Walker. Centre forward. Hard as nails and a stonkingly good player. I can still name that side. The book sits proudly on my shelves alongside 'Build a Bonfire' - the other top quality book about football.

BobG

[roversontheup]

I played in the Belles 2nd team when the first team had about 7 England players. Absolutely the best team in the country. Sickens me how the WPL is all about money and it ran roughshod over Donny Belles the club with the most achievements and history. Not asking for special treatment but it should have been decided on football merit not how much money you had behind you.

[BobG]

Agreed ROTU. You must have been some player . That Belles side was something else.  If you got that close you were a damn fine player.

Ever come across a guy called Adrian Sill? Known as Ade. He was a huge Belles supporter. Ran the website, organised all sorts and put in huge efforts when the FA did their shameful, shameful collapse in the face of Man City and money.

The FA, btw, shafted 2 Donny clubs: the Belles with Man City and the Rovers with Firestarter. Utterly shameful behaviour both times. It's  why I still refuse to support England. They wouldn't support my clubs despite what their bloody Charter says, so why should I support theirs?

BobG

[roversontheup]

Agreed ROTU. You must have been some player . That Belles side was something else.  If you got that close you were a damn fine player.

Ever come across a guy called Adrian Sill? Known as Ade. He was a huge Belles supporter. Ran the website, organised all sorts and put in huge efforts when the FA did their shameful, shameful collapse in the face of Man City and money.

The FA, btw, shafted 2 Donny clubs: the Belles with Man City and the Rovers with Firestarter. Utterly shameful behaviour both times. It's  why I still refuse to support England. They wouldn't support my clubs despite what their bloody Charter says, so why should I support theirs?

BobG

No Bob don't think I knew Ade. Long after my time. You are quite right about the FA though I vent my spleen on the PL and WPL. These days I love supporting my team Rovers but gave little interest in any other footie. Rather watch cricket and rugby.

[BobG]

Living miles and miles from Donny I watch lower league footy generally. Forest Green, Swindon, Oxford occasionally. I do it because the sodding FA sold its soul, and it's birthright, to Murdoch and the PL. That, btw, was one of the most corrupt deals this country has ever seen. So I support lower league clubs and despair about the PL.

Ade, btw, and I think his father, ran a lot of stuff for the Belles pre Man City. Ade was so incensed by what happened that he did a lot of agitprop at the time.

Different question: do you recall a young, slim Danish girl brought to Donny by the Belles? Very roughly somewhere between the late 90's and the noughties. Skillful but very slight. It turned out she didn't have the strength to compete but she definitely made an impression. I've  always wished I could remember her name!

BobG