ENGLAND 1 ITALY 2
21 APRIL 1998
With the European Championships currently in full swing and dominating the national conversation, there is little doubt that women’s football is still enjoying remarkable, rapid growth.
It was not always so.
Back in the 1990s, it was still a game scrambling to get some attention, and so international games were particularly important. Taking the England Women’s team to major stadia around the country, long before they could dream of filling Wembley Stadium as they do with such ease now, was an important stepping stone on the way to today. The Hawthorns played its part, hosting a game between England and Italy on 21 April 1998.
The squad trained at the Birmingham FA’s grounds at Great Barr, the friendly acting as part of the build up to some key fixtures in England’s ultimately unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 1999 World Cup, team manager Dick Bate in his last months in the job as he prepared to pass the baton on to Hope Powell, who became England Women’s first ever full-time coach that summer.
Albion played their part in trying to drum up support for the game, pegging ticket prices at just £3 for adults, with under-16s able to get in for free, not bad given that league games that season cost from £12 in the Brummie and the Smethwick. It was made clear that the women’s game still had a long way to go when a crowd of just 2,520 turned out for their game, a sharp contrast to the 13,917 that had attended England B against Chile B at The Hawthorns two months earlier, when the men’s side included future Albion men Ricci Scimeca and Nigel Quashie.
Ironically, the games had the same scoreline, England losing 2-1 on both occasions. The women had made a good start against the Italians, taking an early lead when Sue Smith’s corner into the box found Faye White, and she headed into the net.
Italy fought back but England defended well, skipper Gillian Coulthard marshalling the side, and limiting the Italians to few real opportunities. The combative nature of the friendly was underlined just before the break when the Italians lost two players to injury. Roberta Stefanelli limped off following a tackle with Coulthard, then Anna Duo was stretchered off after coming off worst in a challenge with Danielle Murphy, who was booked. Shades of Luigi Riva and the Anglo-Italian Cup of 1971, for those with long memories.
In spite of that, Italy rallied further after the break and they were level in the 70th minute, Patrizia Saerti running onto a through ball to fire past Pauline Cope. England then brought on Rachel Brown in goal, one of five substitutes on the night, but she was also beaten soon afterwards when Piera Maglio fired home a free-kick from 20 yards.
Not the result that England wanted, but nonetheless, it was a big night for some women who would go on to be big names among a trailblazing generation that paved the way for the successes of today.
It proved a successful night for The Hawthorns too, the Football Association full of praise for the way the game had been staged. This plaque was due commemoration of the occasion.