Women's premier Soccer League ( W.P.S.L)

This is the worlds leading most recognised women's football professional league. It is split into 7 conferences according to places where each team is situated in the country and all these teams compete on a professional level. These conferences are entitled the West conference, Southwest Conference,South Conference,Midwest conference,East conference , North division and the Mid atlantic division. All the teams from each conference are split into a division and compete amongst one another. The WPSL'S intentions are to promote women's football worldwide not merely just in the USA. Women's football is progressing immensely due to its influence.

Social Views on women playing football

Many argue that women and men playing together in a match, is a step too far as women are unable to physically compete with men, however many believe that women should be able to compete against one another at the same level that men do. However some just believe that women’s football is not at the same skill level as men’s football and don’t see women deserving enough to make it an occupation

Political Views on Womens football

Politically despite there appearing to be support for women to play football this isn't actually the case. There is a ban restricting women from playing football professionally as an occupation in the UK implemented by the F.A. Dr jean Williams from the De monfort university, argues that this is against the law of equal oppurtunities in the UK. She is urging for this ban to be reviewed aswell as the law for equal opportunity.

Historical – Women's football in UK( the 1921 F.A. Ban)

The idea of women playing football was not revived in the UK until after the first world war.Despite being more popular than some men's football events (one match saw a 53,000 strong crowd), women's football in England and Scotland suffered a blow in 1921 .The F.A. banned women from playing on the same football grounds as men due to distasteful comments. A similar decree was made by Scottish football authorities. Some speculated that these decisions may have been driven by envy of the large crowds that women's matches attracted. The ban led to the formation of the English Ladies Football Association, and women's football matches were moved to Rugby grounds and park football pitches not affiliated to the FA. The ban limited public exposure for women's football and slowed its growth, but did not stop it. Women's football continued to draw some dedicated players and fans but arguably this did greatly hinder the process.

.Despite this occurring such a long time ago it is obvious that has created a huge drift between both genders playing football. Had this ban not occurred women's football could have possibly progressed just as well as men's football in the UK and abroad. Had the ban not occurred today's society may have found that women playing football is just as acceptable and as well played as men playing football.

Economical Factors influencing the restriction on womens football progressing

It is clear that a differentiation is being created between women's and men's football matches as the cost for a women's world cup game this year is merely priced at £5 a game for adults and £2 a game for children. Where as the minimum price you'd find for a men's world cup game would be £40 for adults at the very lowest. This obviously shows how economically why it is difficult for women's football to progress. This also links and easily shows the predominant social view, that people believe women are just not as good as men at sports.

Bend it like beckhams influence on womens football

" David really thought the football scenes were great " – Gurinder Chada- Director

It is clear and evident that this film alone played a key role in the progression of women's football in the UK. Reason being David Beckhams happiness due to the production of the film bearing his name. He stated how he enjoyed the football scenes and was happy to see women's football being glamorized. This is likely to play a key role in promoting women's football as one of the worlds most iconic sports figures is in support of the movement and believes it should be pushed forward. The other key fact is the key role the F.A. played in promoting the film , which enabled it to be so popular not only in Britain but worldwide.

Women's football in the UK

According to BBC Sport-Football has now replaced netball as the most popular sport for females across England. In 1993, when the F.A. took over running women's games in England, there were merely 11,200 players. Today there are over 100,000. However the U.S.A. is clearly the most progressing country with 7.8. million registered players, despite football originating in England. Despite clearly being under represented in the UK, women's football is progressing.Record attendances, TV Ratings , media coverage, increase in financial expenditure and a clear increase in talent all prove this. This particularly occurred after England's success in EURO 2005, reaching the quarter finals, narrowly loosing to Sweden.