What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lost Lionesses: The incredible story of England’s forgotten trailblazers
'Inspiring. After reading this book, I'm ready to run through a brick wall for these girls.' - Karen Bardsley, ex-Lioness
A captivating and moving account of the first England women's football team that took part in the 1971 World Cup - detailing the injustice faced by those who took part and its effect on the women's game as a whole. Told by the team themselves and written by the celebrity daughter of the main striker.
'Don't laugh, one day there may be a female Arsenal', one headline read amidst the ridicule following the First Women's World Cup in 1971.
The spotlight was on the original lionesses, a diverse group of schoolgirls, bank clerks, and telephonists, primarily hailing from Chiltern Valley football club, run by a 60-year-old, multilingual bus driver called Harry. These amateur girls emerged as England's first women's football team at the 1971 World Cup in Mexico, only to face scorn once returned home. They were mocked by the press and their achievements were undermined. Players were banned for three months to two years if they tried to play with another team. The heroes had been punished.
But the time has come to tell their truth.
Narrated by the daughter of one of the team members, Janice Barton, with unprecedented access to the secrets and insights of the first ever woman's team, this is a multi-generational story celebrating the power of a group of women who refused to accept the status quo - revealing how the events of 1971 shaped mother and daughter's lives both personally and professionally.
50 years later, Gail, her mother, and the rest of the team are ready to tell their story and share the legacy of the lost lionesses.
A captivating and moving account of the first England women's football team that took part in the 1971 World Cup - detailing the injustice faced by those who took part and its effect on the women's game as a whole. Told by the team themselves and written by the celebrity daughter of the main striker.
'Don't laugh, one day there may be a female Arsenal', one headline read amidst the ridicule following the First Women's World Cup in 1971.
The spotlight was on the original lionesses, a diverse group of schoolgirls, bank clerks, and telephonists, primarily hailing from Chiltern Valley football club, run by a 60-year-old, multilingual bus driver called Harry. These amateur girls emerged as England's first women's football team at the 1971 World Cup in Mexico, only to face scorn once returned home. They were mocked by the press and their achievements were undermined. Players were banned for three months to two years if they tried to play with another team. The heroes had been punished.
But the time has come to tell their truth.
Narrated by the daughter of one of the team members, Janice Barton, with unprecedented access to the secrets and insights of the first ever woman's team, this is a multi-generational story celebrating the power of a group of women who refused to accept the status quo - revealing how the events of 1971 shaped mother and daughter's lives both personally and professionally.
50 years later, Gail, her mother, and the rest of the team are ready to tell their story and share the legacy of the lost lionesses.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2024
8 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 3, 2024
the Powers That Be in English football should be ashamed of the damage they have done to hold back women in this sport. in a country so football crazy, it is astounding that they did not even have a professional league for women until 2018. the Lost Lionesses of the Mexico 1971 Women’s World Cup deserve so much more for representing a country who tried to thwart every effort they made, even with the FA issuing their coach and his wife a lifetime ban from the game. women, and the people who lift them up and support them as they rise, deserve a place in sport. we always have, we always will.
“If the FA had embraced Harry [Batt, the coach of the Lost Lionesses]’s forward thinking approach, women’s football might have reached a level comparable to the Premier League… the FA’s reluctance to support him hindered the progress of women’s football.”
“The Lost Lionesses believed that the inability to overcome personality clashes and political hurdles stalled the progress of women’s football, with individual egos impeding the collective goal of advancing the sport.”
“No matter what FIFA, UEFA, and the FA achieve, nothing can compare to the moment when a group of mostly inexperienced teenagers ran out onto the Azteca Stadium turf in front of 90,000 deafening Mexican fans.”
“In 1971, it seems that the future generations of girls playing football were not on the minds of those in charge, nor were they thinking about the women battling away just to be able to do something they were passionate about. Those women did all the hard work with no money, no recognition, and no support. To not think about the future, that demeans those women like the Lost Lionesses.”
“If the FA had embraced Harry [Batt, the coach of the Lost Lionesses]’s forward thinking approach, women’s football might have reached a level comparable to the Premier League… the FA’s reluctance to support him hindered the progress of women’s football.”
“The Lost Lionesses believed that the inability to overcome personality clashes and political hurdles stalled the progress of women’s football, with individual egos impeding the collective goal of advancing the sport.”
“No matter what FIFA, UEFA, and the FA achieve, nothing can compare to the moment when a group of mostly inexperienced teenagers ran out onto the Azteca Stadium turf in front of 90,000 deafening Mexican fans.”
“In 1971, it seems that the future generations of girls playing football were not on the minds of those in charge, nor were they thinking about the women battling away just to be able to do something they were passionate about. Those women did all the hard work with no money, no recognition, and no support. To not think about the future, that demeans those women like the Lost Lionesses.”
September 27, 2024
What an astonishing book!! Having played football myself when I was younger, this was an eye opening story into the goings on in Women's football during the 1960's and 70's. Brilliantly told by the author whose Mum was one of those women who went to Mexico in 1971 to compete for England in the World Cup, I found myself staggered by the backlash faced by them all!
I loved the way this book is set out too - we are introduced to the women and girls as they are growing up and how they came to play football, and the obstacles they faced in trying to play a 'man's game!', and how the history of Women's football has evolved over the ages in this country and abroad too. The success of the 1966 World Cup Final made football more popular for girls too, so many teams were set up, although staggeringly the FA banned them from playing on FA affiliated pitches.
We're also introduced to Harry Batt who put together a women's team and I am left with deep gratitude and admiration for his determination in fighting for the rights of the girls to play, and also feel so sad about how he was treated by the FA - shameful!!
We go behind the scenes in Mexico for the world cup where the girls got to play in front of 90,000 spectators and how they all coped with the attention and heat. And we also get to see what happened to them when they came home, and how attitudes to girls playing football took time to change - we only have to look now to see how far things have come.
A powerful story and very important that it's now being told and I highly recommend it to anyone!! A brilliant read!
I loved the way this book is set out too - we are introduced to the women and girls as they are growing up and how they came to play football, and the obstacles they faced in trying to play a 'man's game!', and how the history of Women's football has evolved over the ages in this country and abroad too. The success of the 1966 World Cup Final made football more popular for girls too, so many teams were set up, although staggeringly the FA banned them from playing on FA affiliated pitches.
We're also introduced to Harry Batt who put together a women's team and I am left with deep gratitude and admiration for his determination in fighting for the rights of the girls to play, and also feel so sad about how he was treated by the FA - shameful!!
We go behind the scenes in Mexico for the world cup where the girls got to play in front of 90,000 spectators and how they all coped with the attention and heat. And we also get to see what happened to them when they came home, and how attitudes to girls playing football took time to change - we only have to look now to see how far things have come.
A powerful story and very important that it's now being told and I highly recommend it to anyone!! A brilliant read!
September 20, 2024
This is an important book and a more than humbling read as it describes the struggles and obstacles faced by what was dubbed the first England Women's international football team as they overcame seemingly overwhelming odds to compete in the 1971 Women's World Cup in Mexico.
Featuring interviews with many team members and their families who were all amateurs this is a comprehensive account of the politics behind the scene, blatant sexual discrimination and scrimping and saving that took place before the team was able to compete, and compete they did finishing in sixth place after playing in front of massive crowds in Mexico.
They were hounded when they returned to this country and amazingly faced bans for taking part in this competition as politics and petty turf squabbles were paramount.
Merely by competing the team succeeded against all odds and it is fitting that their accomplishments are recorded and recognised after they became the precursors for the all conquering Lioness team that became European champions in 2022.
A stirring and important read.
Featuring interviews with many team members and their families who were all amateurs this is a comprehensive account of the politics behind the scene, blatant sexual discrimination and scrimping and saving that took place before the team was able to compete, and compete they did finishing in sixth place after playing in front of massive crowds in Mexico.
They were hounded when they returned to this country and amazingly faced bans for taking part in this competition as politics and petty turf squabbles were paramount.
Merely by competing the team succeeded against all odds and it is fitting that their accomplishments are recorded and recognised after they became the precursors for the all conquering Lioness team that became European champions in 2022.
A stirring and important read.
September 22, 2024
A fantastic book giving a voice to an incredible bunch of women who experienced a huge injustice over 50 years ago when they showcased their talent at the Womens World Cup in 1971 . As someone who had to pretend to be a boy as a child so I could play football with other children I have a sense of the climate in relation to women playing football at that time but I had no idea of the plight of these women and the man who championed the case for womens football, Harry Batt.
This is a deeply moving account of the events at the time and the consequences the group paid for doing something they loved and had a talent for. I hope this book and the acknowledgement I am sure it will bring as more people learn about their experiences will prove healing for all concerned. Harry Batt is my new hero!
I am very grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced listener copy of this wonderfully narrated audiobook and will be recommending it to my football loving friends.
This is a deeply moving account of the events at the time and the consequences the group paid for doing something they loved and had a talent for. I hope this book and the acknowledgement I am sure it will bring as more people learn about their experiences will prove healing for all concerned. Harry Batt is my new hero!
I am very grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced listener copy of this wonderfully narrated audiobook and will be recommending it to my football loving friends.
September 25, 2024
The Lost Lionesses tells the story of the first England women's football team that took part in the 1971 World Cup and the challenges and injustices that they faced. The book is filled with words from the players themselves and is written by the daughter of the striker.
This book is filled with stories and anecdotes surrounding the team and is both heart-warming and devastating in equal measures.
I loved everything about this book. I found it so interesting to learn about the history of women's football and the difficulties the players had to endure. As someone with a 10 year old daughter who is mad about football, I think it is important to know the history of the sport.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the story of the lost Lionesses.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.
This book is filled with stories and anecdotes surrounding the team and is both heart-warming and devastating in equal measures.
I loved everything about this book. I found it so interesting to learn about the history of women's football and the difficulties the players had to endure. As someone with a 10 year old daughter who is mad about football, I think it is important to know the history of the sport.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the story of the lost Lionesses.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.
September 25, 2024
Why did this book make me cry? Twice! Its so rare that books make me cry but this just hit me. As a woman who grew up in the go's and played in her primary and secondary school's first girls football teams, I really felt this. The story alone was so fascinating. It was also a rollercoaster, one moment its making my heart swell and the next I'm annoyed.
I love that these inspiring woman are finally being able to talk about their experiences and get the attention and recognition they deserve. I already have and will continue to recommend this to everyone.
I love that these inspiring woman are finally being able to talk about their experiences and get the attention and recognition they deserve. I already have and will continue to recommend this to everyone.
October 25, 2024
A really interesting story uncovering forgotten history of women in sport. The format for me didn’t work brilliantly on audible, I think I’d have preferred reading it from a book to get a better flow.
July 9, 2025
A good book and important message, but can’t help but feel it could have been written in a slightly more engaging way. Bit tough to remember all the names at different points and think more should have been written about the political side of things.
September 11, 2025
Fascinating story about women’s football. Shows how far it has come in the last 50 years.
October 21, 2024
Wow what a listen that was. Gail Emms must be so proud to have been part of bringing a lost piece of sporting history to the forefront and having a family member who was part of it.
The Lost Lionesses tells the story of a football team who travelled to Mexico for the women’s World Cup in 1971, their childhood backgrounds, the trials and tribulations of getting there and the aftermath that ensued.
A story of joy, dreams, hope and courage of some and bias and discrimination of others.
This is an absolute must read for any football fan. An incredible story of a team of young women fulfilling a footballing dream encouraged by a brilliant human being in the shape of Coach Harry Batt who challenged authorities, including the FA to get his team just to be able to play football.
A story that needs to be told!!
This will definitely be going on my bookshelf.
This is a review of the audiobook.
The Lost Lionesses tells the story of a football team who travelled to Mexico for the women’s World Cup in 1971, their childhood backgrounds, the trials and tribulations of getting there and the aftermath that ensued.
A story of joy, dreams, hope and courage of some and bias and discrimination of others.
This is an absolute must read for any football fan. An incredible story of a team of young women fulfilling a footballing dream encouraged by a brilliant human being in the shape of Coach Harry Batt who challenged authorities, including the FA to get his team just to be able to play football.
A story that needs to be told!!
This will definitely be going on my bookshelf.
This is a review of the audiobook.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews