Anyone who thinks that women’s soccer is a new idea couldn’t be more wrong. Women have been playing the sport for as long as it has existed. Long before Premiership leagues and cup contests were formed, women were thought to have played the sport in some of the most ancient of civilizations.

There is evidence that a version of [tag-tec]womens soccer[/tag-tec] was played by women in the Han Dynasty in China. This means the sport was possibly played as early as 25-250CE.

It is believed that French women played the sport as early as the 12^th century. That had little effect on women at first, however soon soccer was seen as something that was socially acceptable for women to play. In Scotland, the first recorded and official game for women was in 1892 and in England 1895.

In 1894, a woman named Nettie Honeyball formed the women’s football league in England. It was an effort to emancipate women from men. The women’s football league was frowned upon but continued on without any support from British football associations.

Women worked outside the home in far greater numbers than they had previously during these years. The great increase in women working in heavy industry spurred the growth of women’s company football or soccer teams. Women’s soccer grew in popularity. In 1921 both the English and Scottish football leagues both banned women from playing on pitches owned by the FA. The ban on women playing on member grounds was not lifted until 1971. In 1966, England won the world cup. All over Europe women’s professional teams were starting up and women’s professional football has since made its mark and is here to stay.

The sport has become as professional as men’s soccer or football has. [tag-tec]Women’s soccer[/tag-tec] got a huge boost when record crowds attended the 1999 women’s world cup, won by the USA. The womens world cup soccer tournament drew worldwide television interest and a final in front of a record-setting 90,000+ Los Angeles crowd, the home team won 5-4 on penalty kicks .

In 2002, FIFA inaugurated a women’s youth championship, officially called the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship. The first event was hosted by Canada. The USA defeated the host Canadians 1-0 with an extra-time golden goal.

In 2008, FIFA will institute an under-17 world championship. The inaugural event will be held in New Zealand from 30 October to 16 November.

Women’s soccer has been steadily gaining in popularity. Crowds are on the increase and the style of soccer being played in the main is attractive attacking football. The future looks bright for womens soccer around the world.