Those who know me are familiar with my obsession interest in real football (ie the women’s game). So when I saw this book advertised, I jumped on it faster than Erin Cuthbert on a loose midfield ball.

The Lost Lionesses tells the story of a team who travelled to Mexico for the women’s World Cup in 1971. They did so against the wishes of the English FA, and both the players and their manager ended up with footballing bans for doing so.

Gail Emms - who is in the uniquely privileged position of her mother having been part of that team - begins by sharing the background of each of the women and how their love of football began, usually in childhood. She then traces the establishment of the team grown by Harry Batt - a huge advocate and defender of the women’s game.

In the late 60s there was still a ban in place on women playing football and specifically on FA-accredited pitches. While the FA argued at the time (and still would now) that they were working toward an aligned utopian future of equal access and representation, Emms shows where this was not in fact the case, and then contrasts this with the dedication of players and manager to move the game forward.

She evokes a Mexican World Cup full of colour and new experiences, really painting a picture of the start of a new age of women’s football. The subsequent readjustments and lack of recognition of their achievements is frustrating to hear but important to tell.

I particularly enjoyed the final stages of the book; the “what if?” chapter, and the more recent positive signs of football moving forward towards some kind of parity were great to read. Whether or not you’re already a football fan, I reckon you’ll find something in this book to grab your interest.

Thank you Octopus for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

You can get hold of The Lost Lionesses from Amazon (UK) or Amazon (US)

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