Women and Football in the 1960's
While reading through Football League Review, or any football publication from the 60's and 70's for that matter, it's fascinating to see the attitude to women in the game. It seems to echo the cringeworthy 70's sitcoms where women are known universally as 'birds' and should 'know their place'. I don't of course condone this but I reproduce three letters from the Review's postbags.
From December 1967, Chris James writes
While reading through Football League Review, or any football publication from the 60's and 70's for that matter, it's fascinating to see the attitude to women in the game. It seems to echo the cringeworthy 70's sitcoms where women are known universally as 'birds' and should 'know their place'. I don't of course condone this but I reproduce three letters from the Review's postbags.
From December 1967, Chris James writes
'So Miss Fox reckons that West Ham United are the best looking team in England? She must be joking.
I'd like to see any team better looking than Everton with men like Joe Royle, Colin Harvey, Howard Kendall, Tommy Wright, John Hurst, Gordon West and Alan Ball in it. What's more, Everton reserves are just as great with names like Andy Rankin, Dave Turner, Arthur Styles, Harry Bennett, Roger Kenyon, Terry Owen & Billy Binkle.'
This is a common theme that crops up regularly and, tired of the underlying misogyny, Rosemary Buckley is forced to write in September 1968 -
'I want to point out on behalf of hundreds of girls that we don't all go to Manchester United to ogle at George Best. Many of us go because we want to enjoy the football.'
I'm sick and tired of lads saying, 'Huh! You only go to watch George Best.' We know he is better looking than most, but I go to United to see football, not him!'
By way of balance, and doubtless concerned by the controversy Rosemary Buckley's comments may cause, the editor published the following letter from John Whitehead in the very same issue.
'Wherever you go nowadays some paper or magazine or other carries a picture of attractive girl fans.
No publication goes to as many women fans as yours does. Why not invite girls to send in their pictures, plus a few details of themselves. and offer us half a dozen or so of the prettiest for readers to choose a Football League Review Girl Supporter of the year.'
The Editor replied that it was a 'Splendid Idea', however I don't recall seeing such pictures, maybe Mr Whitehead has them!
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