Celebrating women's soccer in New Zealand
A DigitalNZ Story by squiggle_top
Despite some early objections, soccer (football) has been played and enjoyed by women since the 1890s.
From the 1890s to the 2020s
A selection of images and resources, highlighting several key events over the last century in relation to women's soccer (football) in New Zealand.
Suitable sports for women
Although women were participating in other forms of sport (including cycling, cricket, croquet, swimming and tennis) in the 1890s, there was much consternation about women participating in "rougher" sports such as football.
Football: an unsuitable sport for women
"It appears that some thirty young women have gone into active training in the game of football."
FEMALE FOOTBALLERS. (Auckland Star, 02 June 1891)
National Library of New Zealand
"... but there are some things for which women are constitutionally unfitted."
THE PROPOSED FEMALE FOOTBALL TEAM. (Auckland Star, 05 June 1891)
National Library of New Zealand
Objection to visiting women's football team.
THE FEMALE FOOTBALL TEAM. (Wanganui Chronicle, 13 June 1891)
National Library of New Zealand
Supporters advocate for women to play football
"It's not so many years ago since the same indignant howl went up on account of the lady cricketers."
National Library of New Zealand
British Ladies Football Association established in 1895.
Although she never played the sport, Lady Florence Dixie founded and was the patron of the British Ladies Football Association.
Lady Florence Dixie on football for women
"There is no reason why football should not be played by women, and played well too"
National Library of New Zealand
Additional resources:
- The Honeyballers: Women who fought to play football. BBC. 26 September 2013.
"We are all most enthusiastic and we play for the sake of pure sport only."
FOOTBALL FOR LADIES. (Otago Daily Times 30-3-1895)
National Library of New Zealand
North v. South Women's Football Match. 1895.
A public match between two rival women's teams in London, and although well attended, this match was not without its detractors.
Women's Football Match
"... football is not a suitable recreation for them if they wish to maintain anything of womanly grace and dignity"
National Library of New Zealand
British Women's Footballers featured in NZ newspapers
Images of women footballers appeared in local newspapers during the early 1900s.
1910s
Showing women war-workers soccer teams before a recreational game.
Auckland Libraries
1919
Showing members of a victorious women's football in team in England in 1919 carrying their captain on their shoulders.
Auckland Libraries
1920s
Training ahead of a match against the French team.
Auckland Libraries
1920s
Giving some advice before the match.
Auckland Libraries
1920s
As women football players were banned by the British Football Association, the question of whether or not soccer was suitable for women in New Zealand was raised again.
Letter to the Editor.
"Of course, our women need exercise, but I don't think it should be of the football variety."
National Library of New Zealand
Should women play football?
In Britain, the Football Association decided against allowing their clubs to host women's 'footer' matches.
National Library of New Zealand
Banned by men's clubs.
The Football Association makes their position clear.
National Library of New Zealand
International match ends in a riot in 1923
A match between two popular French women's football teams ended in a riot, adding more speculation that this was an unsuitable sport for women.
A riot at women's football match in Paris.
They invaded the field, and a free fight ensued among the players and the spectators. Two girl players were suspended.
National Library of New Zealand
Women's football in New Zealand during 1910s - 1940s
New Zealand women were indeed playing football in the early 1900s.
n.d.
Hawke's Bay Women's Football. Photo likely taken between 1900 - 1940.
Hawke's Bay Knowledge Bank
1970s: the first clubs and international success
The 1970s saw the first women's clubs and leagues, starting up in the Auckland region.
- Barbara Cox, the matriarch of New Zealand football (video), episode of Scratched: Aotearoa's Lost Sporting Legends. The Spinoff, 2019.
In 1975, the New Zealand Women's Football team went to Hong Kong for the Asian Cup, and they won!
- NZ’s first keeper turns football crusader. Joan Grey, Newsroom. September 13, 2022.
Barbara Cox and the struggle for female footballers. 2019.
Barbara Cox, former captain of the NZ women’s team, shares her experiences as a soccer player.
The Spinoff
1972
The Papakura' 'Ladybirds' girls' soccer team takes on a Mt Roskill team at Papakura in July.
Auckland Libraries
1973
Christchurch Girls’ High School students playing soccer in Hagley Park.
Christchurch City Libraries
1974
Grey Lynn Womens Soccer Team
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
In August 2023, The National Library of New Zealand put out a call for the public to help identify players in photographs taken of the Island Bay Women's A.F.C. team and Seatoun Ladies teams from 1975 & 1976. Do you know who some of these players are?
- The beautiful game, Kimberley Stephenson, National Library blog post, 17 August 2023
1981
Ferguson Intermediate School girls' soccer team. Auckland.
Auckland Libraries
Football Ferns
A long time between international wins, from 1975 (Asian Cup) to 2013 (Valais Cup) to 2023 (World Cup)
As one of two co-hosts for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, the Football Ferns (New Zealand's women's team) won their opening match against Norway, with a 1-0 victory.
- A night to remember for New Zealand Football, 21 July 2023, article on RadioNZ
- Football Ferns stun Norway in historic World Cup victory, 21 July 2023, article on RadioNZ
- Ferns open World Cup campaign with first ever win, 20 July 2023, article on New Zealand Football
Football Ferns win the Valais Cup in Switzerland. 2013.
Former player, Maia Jackman reflects on the historic international win, the first since the 1975 Asian Cup win.
Radio New Zealand
Pay parity and hosting a global event
- A significant financial shift in 2018.
- New Zealand and Australia won the rights to jointly host the 2023 FIFA Women's Football World Cup, with matches taking place across both countries.
2018 Pay parity
An equal share in prize money and equal rights for image use.
Radio New Zealand
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia
This is the first time ever that the women's tournament is held in the Southern Hemisphere.
Radio New Zealand
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023
Raising the profile of women's football to a "an unprecedented level"
Although the Football Ferns didn't advance beyond the initial pool round, the public's excitement and engagement with "Football Fever" resulted in record crowd attendance at the stadium events across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ breaks new records, 25 July 2023, article on fifa.com:
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has thanked the two host nations for their efforts in raising the profile of women’s football to an unprecedented level on a global scale.
Throughout the tournament, there has been significant media coverage of the games, the players and the impact of this event.
- FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer, Sarai Bareman hails game-changing FIFA Women’s World Cup, 04 August 2023, article on fifa.com
- FIFA Women's World Cup: Rosie White's magic moments from Football Ferns win to Sam Kerr strike, Rosie White, 18 August 2023, article on Stuff.com
- Player stats: Speed, distance, dribbling, passing, creating and more, fifa.com [accessed 18 August 2023)
- LGBTQ+ community proud and visible at Women's World Cup, Max Ralph, 29 July 2023, article on Stuff.com
- Women's World Cup 2023: 'Football fever has taken over New Zealand', Neil Johnston, 16 August 2023, article on BBC Sport
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage