50 Women in Sport

With the phenomenal success of the England Football team at the Euros 2022, this book meets the renewed interest in women in sport. It provides a fascinating overview of the history of women in sport from centuries past to the present day, demonstrating the leaps forward that sportswomen have taken since 1945, as well as an inspiring account of great female Paralympians.

The 25 profiles of incredible female pioneers and legends evidence the grit and determination required to challenge discrimination, to break records and demolish outdated notions of the weaker sex. The recent investment in women’s sports, as seen for football, rugby and cricket, has driven greater popularity and success.

This book also includes a wonderful selection of interviews with over 25 women competing in a wide range of sports today, as well as leading figures in the industry, coaches, referees, presenters, and broadcasters.

Includes colour photos throughout.

Jean Williams is a British Professor in Sport History and author specialising in Women’s history; sport and literature; sportswear and motorsport. Having previously taught English for a decade, Williams is a senior research fellow at the International Centre for Sport History and Culture, De Montfort University. She also acts as a historical consultant to the National Football Museum, particularly for elections to the English Football Hall of Fame. Though mainly known for her work on women’s football, Williams has produced a range of material on the history of sports and the social contexts of events: these include articles on a collection of early modern sporting poems and 1950s British Bridge to a chapter on the Indianapolis 500 motor race in the United States. Williams has also looked at women’s motor racing for a special edition on Britain’s motorists published in 2014. In terms of public history, Williams is very interested in the midlands, writing of Leicestershire cricketer George Geary for Our Sporting Life, an exhibition held at Curve Theatre in February 2011. She is a lifelong supporter of Leicester City Football Club. Williams is author of ’A Game For Rough Girls: A History of Women’s Football in England’ (Routledge 2003) and ’A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women’s Football’ (Berg 2007). Her main projects for 2010-11 include a research monograph called ’A Contemporary History of Women’s Sport’ (Routledge Research, 2011) and a 17,000 Euro UEFA-funded project Women’s Football, Europe and Professionalization 1971-2011. She is also writing a history of Britain’s Women Olympians 1900-2012. In 2012 the Oxford DNB will publish articles on Leicester swimmer Jennie Fletcher and St Helen’s footballing prodigy Lily Parr, for example. Williams has acted as consultant to sports organisations, including FIFA needed, and for the media, including the BBC Nation on Film Series and Edwardian Farm. Corporate consultations include deodorant brand Sure. She has also appeared on the BBC Radio 4 history comedy series ’You’re Dead To Me’ alongside Greg Jenner and Tom Parry as a football historian.