From FA ban to double Euros winners - Lionesses reach 500 games
When Sarina Wiegman's side play Iceland in Reykjavik on Saturday (17:30 BST) they will reach another milestone - the 500th fixture for England's senior women's team. The game is important for securing qualification for next year's World Cup in Brazil, with England keen to win more silverware in the famous white shirt. But regardless of the result, the match will be etched in history as a reminder of how far the English women's game has come.
In 1921, the Football Association (FA) banned women's football, considering the game "most unsuitable for females" , external . The decision consigned women's football to park pitches and small venues for half a century before the decision was overturned in 1971 . To mark 500 not out, BBC Sport takes a look at 11 defining moments in the history of England's women.
Watch the Lionesses play their first offical game in 1972 Although an unofficial England side had played in front of 90,000 fans in Mexico's Azteca Stadium in a global women's tournament in 1971, this was the first proper Women's Football Association (WFA) England team. It was November 1972 and England travelled north to face Scotland at Ravenscraig Stadium in Greenock. In front of 400 fans, the Lionesses edged a thrilling game, coming from behind to secure a 3-2 victory.
A year later, the teams played again for England's first official home match and the Lionesses claimed a resounding 8-0 victory in Nuneaton. The England women's team trained at Wembley Stadium before heading up to Greenock for their match against Scotland The Uefa competition for national representative women's teams predated the Women's Euros England made their major tournament debut in 1984, competing as one of four teams in a Uefa competition that was a precursor to the Women's Euros. After overcoming Denmark 3-1 over two games, they faced a two-legged final against Sweden.
The Swedes won the first encounter in Gothenburg thanks to teenager Pia Sundhage's strike, but Linda Curl's goal settled the second in England's favour at Luton Town's Kenilworth Road. The trophy was decided by a penalty shootout, with Sweden prevailing 4-3 after Curl was unable to convert her spot-kick. England women played at Wembley Stadium for the first time in 1989, taking on old rivals Sweden to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the WFA.