By Lou Kuenzler (author)
"The amazing story of the origins of women’s football in World War 1"
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The eye opening and fascinating true story of Lily Parr, Alice Woods and their teammates in the Dick Kerr Ladies Football team are the inspiration behind this engrossing story of football obsessed Polly Nabb, who would much rather kick a ball than stay at home and help her mother, which is the role society expects her to fulfil.
As men, including her beloved brother, were sent to fight in the war, women and girls took their place in munitions factories. When Polly sees these women playing football in their breaks, she lies about her age to get a job there too and eventually she is recruited to the famous Sparks team, who were playing public matches to sell-out crowds, but also on the receiving end of public vilification and scorn.
Indeed, despite drawing crowds of 50,000, women's football was to be outlawed by the Football Association in 1921, who deemed it 'unsuitable for females'. This little-known fact will astonish modern fans of the Lionesses England team, as will the authentic detail of the dangers of the munition factories and the wider struggle for female independence and respect.
This is a very well-rounded picture of life on the Home Front during the First World War, full of fascinating detail and incident, populated by vivid and memorable characters and infused with a real passion for the game of football. A very entertaining and enjoyable read that adds useful depth to any historical study of the period and a salutary lesson for any sexist sports fans!
A hundred years before the Lionesses, Lily Parr, Alice Woods and their teammates were proudly playing their beloved, exciting and skilful game.
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They can take our ball, but they can never stop the game.
As men were sent to fight in the war, women and girls took their place in munitions factories. Football became a favourite pastime and, before long, they were creating all-female sides and playing public matches to sell-out crowds, overshadowing the men's football.
Despite drawing crowds of 50,000, women's football was outlawed by the Football Association in 1921, who deemed it 'unsuitable for females'. This is the incredible story of these amazing women.
‘Absolutely magnificent! A glorious tale of football, friendship, feminism and social history’ Emma Carroll
‘A powerful story with compelling characters. Full of passion and energy, Our Beautiful Game brings the Home Front to life, showing the challenges women faced on and off the pitch. From the moment we meet Polly we’re rooting for her to succeed’ Sophie McKenzie
With a background as a theatre director and lecturer, Lou grew up on a remote sheep farm in Devon. There weren't many other children around so she used to put on plays with the chickens (absolutely true!) and tell stories to the lambs.
Lou now lives in London with her family and tells stories to them and to Willesden her dog. In this picture he is in the garden helping Lou write one of her Shrinking Violet books. Will says he came up with all the good jokes in that chapter!
Do have a read of Lou's books and see if you enjoy her funny stories … they are full of adventures, scrapes and mishaps (and a few APPALLING jokes which Willesden thinks are HILARIOUS!).
Author photo © Danny Wilder
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A hundred years before the Lionesses, Lily Parr, Alice Woods and their teammates were proudly playing their beloved, exciting and skilful game. They can take our ball, but they can never stop the game.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Our Beautiful Game and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-14 years old
Our Beautiful Game features in the following genres: Featured Books for 13+ readers, Recommendations, Football , Children’s / Teenage general interest: Ball games and sports, Sports, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, History, People / Places, Sporting Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Featured Books for 11+ readers
Paperback, Ebook. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
Our Beautiful Game was written by Lou Kuenzler and published by Faber & Faber
Our Beautiful Game has 400 pages
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
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