Women's football in Wales
 | This article needs attention from an expert in Wales. The specific problem is: inadequate content on the historical and cultural aspects of the subject. (January 2020) |
| Women's football in Wales | |
|---|---|
| Country | Wales |
| Governing body | Football Association of Wales |
| National team(s) | Women's national team |
National competitions | |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
Women's football in Wales is overseen by the Football Association of Wales and is affiliated with both the world (FIFA) and European (UEFA) football governing bodies.[1] As such the national team are eligible to compete in the World Cup and the European Championship. The winners of the top tier league is invited to join the qualifying stage of the Champions League.[2][3][4]
History
Women's football was first played during the 1st World war and gained a revival in the 1990s.[5] Women's football was banned in 1939.[6] The ban was lifted on 29 May 1970.[1]
Domestic League
The pyramid in Wales consists of four tiers.[7] The top two are run directly by the Welsh FA, whilst Tiers 3 and 4 are run by local FA's. Founded in 2009, the top level of domestic football is the Welsh Premier Women's Football League, below which Tier 2 is split into Northern and Southern sections. Levels 3 and 4 are regionalised still further. The winner of the Premier League each season qualifies for the UEFA Women's Champions League. Three teams have been crowned champions since: Cardiff Met. Ladies (6 times), Swansea City Ladies (5 times) and Cardiff City (once). There is also a two-tier Under 19 Development system running parallel to the open age one.
The FAW Women's Cup is the premier national cup competition which was founded in 1992. In the 2021/22 tournament 30 teams entered. The most successful team are Cardiff City with 11 wins, followed by Barry Town Ladies F.C. who have lifted in 4 times. A Premier League Cup was started in 2014.
National team
The national team are affiliated with both UEFA and FIFA. Founded in 1973, they first entered the FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Championship in 1995. They are yet to qualify for the final stages of either tournament, their best effort being during the attempt to reach the 2019 World Cup, when they came second in their group. In June 2018 they reached an all time high position of 29 in the FIFA rankings, in contrast to their lowest position of 57 in 2006. There are also national teams for women and girls at age restricted levels (under 19, under 17 etc.). As of November 2021 current internationals Jess Fishlock and Helen Ward are the most capped and highest scoring senior national players in history.
See also
References
- ^ a b "The history of Welsh football". Wales. 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Women's football 'needs more support'". 22 March 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "London 2012: Olympic boost to local ladies football in Wales". BBC. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Nakrani, Sachin (4 April 2017). "Jessica Fishlock: 'Louis van Gaal was awe-inspiring but also a little crazy'". Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
- ^ "Women's football growing in Wales" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Skillen, Fiona; Byrne, Helena; Carrier, John; James, Gary (2 January 2022). "'The game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged': a comparative analysis of the 1921 English Football Association ban on women's football in Britain and Ireland". Sport in History. 42 (1): 49–75. doi:10.1080/17460263.2021.2025415 – via Taylor and Francis+NEJM.
- ^ "Here's how the restructure of women's football in Wales will work". County Times.
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