People could be forgiven for thinking that women playing football in Australia is a relatively new phenomenon, but nothing is further from the truth.
People could be forgiven for thinking that women playing football in Australia is a relatively new phenomenon, but nothing is further from the truth. Australia has a proud tradition of women playing the round ball game.
Take the Latrobe Ladies team in Queensland for example. Records show the Latrobe Ladies Football Club, based in the inner north of Brisbane were playing matches as early as 1921. The Brisbane Courier, the newspaper of the day, highlights that the existence of the Latrobe Ladies Club predates the formation of the Queensland Ladies’ Soccer Football Association in July 1921.
If the team photo is anything to go by, these women meant business. And they sure knew hats back in the 20’s.
The year proved to be a major trailblazing year for women in Australia, with Edith Cowan becoming the first female parliamentarian when she was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly.
As years went on, Latrobe Football Club went on to amalgamate with neighbouring club Bardon, becoming the club that is now known as Bardon Latrobe. Like many clubs, the women’s teams went through periods of ups and downs and for a number of decades did not field a team.
Inspired by the trail blazing efforts of their Latrobe Ladies, Bardon Latrobe are working to return the Bardon Latrobe girls and women’s teams to their place of significance in women’s football in Queensland. In 2012 they fielded a Women’s Division 1 team (City League) for the first time in many years. The fiery and talented team went on to win the league Premiership and Championship.
“There was a group of us that wanted to play socially but in a competitive division so we put a shout out to Brisbane clubs and Bardon was happy to take us on in division one of the City League,” said Chantelle Shaw.
“We went on to win the league and the grand final which was great.
“It is definitely great to be a part of. We only knew about the 1921 team last season and was amazed to think that they were playing for the club back in the 20-s and to see the strip they played in.”
With a fresh crop of young and passionate girls, and some serious talent moving through the ranks, Bardon Latrobe are making solid inroads to honouring the women who blazed the way in their club.
