WOMEN WINNING
Women Winning a yearlong partnership programme celebrating International Women’s Day 2025 truly kicked off in style on the 3rd March at the Odeon Cinema in Harrogate . Women Winning President Christine and members of SI Harrogate and District joined Paula Stott, Chair of Harrogate Film Society and Sarah Barry CEO of Harrogate Football Club for the showing of the documentary film Copa 71.
Copa 71 follows the history of the unofficial women’s football world cup in Mexico, the final was seen by over 100,000 spectators. Teams from 6 countries England, Mexico, Argentina, Denmark, Italy and France all played on the world stage, but this tournament was erased from sporting history until recently. The documentary focussed on interviews from the female players. All described how, in the late 1960s, early 1970s at home they were ridiculed and subjected to direct discrimination. It was very different in Mexico, where the players were made to feel like superstars during the 5 week tournament.
From the euphoria of Mexico, after returning to their countries, the players believed that the world had shifted, and that women’s football was here to stay. They saw a whole new future for women’s sport. The reality was very different. The success of the tournament did not sit well with football’s all male governing body, Fifa who tried unsuccessfully to stop it happening. Instead the players returned to being banned from playing their sport of choice. And, never given the recognition of playing in the national team and was told not to talk about it. It has taken 50 years for these amazing women to regain their voice and speak out.
Who Won? – Denmark beat Mexico in front of a packed National Stadium with over one hundred thousand spectators. It remains the largest crowd in the history of women’s football!