“I certainly didn’t think of it as making history” Sue Whyatt, the goalkeeper in the first ever England Women’s football squad reflects on what it was like to step on the pitch.

If you like football, representing your country is probably the dream for you.

Well, that dream became a reality for Sue Whyatt at just 16-years-old she was picked as an England goalkeeper – one of only 15 players in the first ever England Women’s team.

This was in 1971, but football for females was very different back then.

“The FA had us doing things like putting make-up on before a match and protecting our busts from a free kick. We were very annoyed but were persuaded to do things for the sake of the publicity,” said Whyatt, reflecting on that era.

“We were asked things like ‘what did our boyfriends think of us playing football?’ or ‘did you have a boyfriend?’ Pretty disgusting really.

“We were never actually asked about football – what do you think of the opposition? Who’s the biggest threat?

“The journalists were men and seemed more interested in the novelty value.”

However, getting in the team in the first place wasn’t easy.

“Well, first of all we had to attend a lot of trials to get picked,” she said.

“One of my teachers (at Manchester Corinthians school, where Whyatt went) put me forward for the local league representative side, then I went for trials for the North West.”

After that Whyatt had to attend a North v South trial, followed by a ‘probables versus possibles’ match.

Whyatt was selected to play for England against Scotland in the very first international, in November 1972 at the Ravenscraig Stadium in Greenock.

At the time, the players didn’t realise the impact and legacy they were building.

Whyatt said: “I certainly didn’t think of it as making history, which we did. I just felt very very lucky to be part of the squad with some amazing players.”

Despite the buzz between the players, the FA weren’t as keen.

She said: “The FA behaved disgracefully towards us and have only very recently recognised our achievements.

“Most of that is thanks to the Lionesses and the fact that they knew some of their history.

“They were very generous towards us when we all met. They clapped us onto the training field. We were totally gobsmacked and felt very honoured.”

Whyatt went on to work as a police officer and added: “I wish sometimes I had had the maturity and courage to demand I be allowed time off from the police service to train and play for my country.

“At the end of the day, I had to earn a living and have a career. There was no chance of that in Women’s football.”

After all these years the team never got any official caps to represent them playing for the country.

However, the FA finally recognised them in July, when Whyatt’s England side were given their caps at Wembley on the 50^th anniversary since that first match, alongside the Euro winning Lionesses.

Whyatt said: “It was all just perfect.

“Just wearing that shirt on the pitch and singing the national anthem with tears rolling down my face.

“Going out onto the pitch in front of 80,000 people, standing with the present day Lionesses singing our national anthem once again.

“What more can you say? I can feel tears welling up thinking about it. My three kids and eldest granddaughter were watching from the stands which made it even more special.”

With women’s football not as recognised then as it is now, Whyatt – and this shows much the game has changed and improved since – had to give up the sport she loved when she joined the police.

“The shifts meant you just couldn’t play often,” she said.

She joined Cheshire Constabulary in 1974 as a cadet.

“Having been successful again at England trials, they promised me I could continue to play,” she explained.

“That was fine as a cadet but when I became a Police Officer in 1975, time off was refused, saying they needed a female on duty in case women or children were brought in.

“That was the end of England football and Ladies football, as I only got one weekend off a month.

“The males got time off for every sport imaginable and at a pretty low level. As a mere constable I was just told to do as I was told and in those days you did.

Can you imagine when a woman couldn’t play football because she had a full-time job?

Scarily that was happening less than half a century ago, at a time when females playing football was still viewed as a second-rate thing.

“I’m proud of every woman who ever played football through the ban and later, we didn’t let them stop us and every one of them has their hand on the Euros trophy.

“Today’s Lionesses recognised that, they knew their history and mentioned that they have deserved everything they got.

“True champions, they have done their country and Women’s football proud, and now I’m filling up again.

It is hoped that women’s football will continue to grow in the next 100 years and only yesterday the schools in England made it a principle to deliver a minimum of two hours of physical education per week.

To help this, more than £600m of funding is to be delivered over two academic years.

This all came about after the 23 Lionesses sent an opening letter to the government.

“I hope that lots of money doesn’t ruin what is so wonderful and refreshing about the women’s game, said Whyatt.

“When you hear girls and boys saying when they do a skill like a back heel, ‘That was a Russo’ You know we are on the right track but it needs to keep growing.

“The atmosphere at Womens games is so great for families.

“I hope that doesn’t change and that they keep it at a price so that most families can afford to keep the fan base and grassroots football growing. That’s where we get our future talent from.”