Now women’s football’s coming home...

IT is a traditionally male sport now enjoyed by millions of women globally.

But historians have revealed that the first recorded game of women’s football took place in Scotland almost 400 years ago.

A church document has revealed a minister’s objection to females joining in a kickabout on a Sunday in Carstairs, Lanarkshire, in 1628. In fact, the Rev John Lindsay condemned both women and men playing football on the Sabbath.

The document dated August 21, 1628, says: ‘Mr John Lindsay, minister at Carstairs, having regretted the break of the Sabbath by the insolent behaviour of men and women in footballing, dancing and Barley Breaks, ordains every Brother [Minister] to labour to restrain the foresaid insolence and break of Sabbath, and to that effect to make intimation thereof into their several kirks next Sabbath day.’

Experts believe the venue was the village green, where the original church stood.

The find has been hailed by politicians and academics on the 390th anniversary of the letter being written.

Clydesdale MSP Aileen Campbell said: ‘I am thrilled Carstairs in my constituency is the location of the first recorded women’s football game in Europe. It is therefore fitting to be welcoming the game “home” as we promote women’s football and encourage women and girls to take up sport.

‘Women’s football is a sport which has an illustrious and very local history and I congratulate everyone who has helped bring this commemoration together.’

Robert Craig, chairman of the Scottish Football Museum, said: ‘Scotland is wellknown and respected for its long and pioneering history in the world of men’s football. But perhaps less well known is the rich and longstanding history of women’s football in Scotland.

‘Women’s football is often regarded as a relatively new sport, so we are delighted to highlight this written evidence tracing its roots back to the 17th century.’

Britain’s first recorded international women’s football match was played in Edinburgh as long ago as May 1881 – and Scotland beat England 3-0.