Plaque honours site of Lionesses' first home game

A commemorative blue plaque has been unveiled at the venue where the England women's football team played their first ever home match.

Members of the 1973 squad, who defeated Scotland 8–0 at Manor Park in Nuneaton, attended the ceremony on Thursday.

The event was part of celebrations marking a "landmark milestone" when the Lionesses play their 500th international match against Iceland on Saturday, the Football Association (FA) said.

Among those present on Thursday was Pat Mitchell-Firth, who scored England Women's first ever hat‑trick at just 16 years of age, in front of a crowd of 1,308.

Describing her elation she said: "When I scored the first goal, I thought 'great, I've scored on my debut'.

"Second goal went in - I thought 'this is brilliant'.

"Third goal went it, I thought 'can't get any better'."

She added of returning to the venue: "It means the world to be here [on Thursday] in Nuneaton celebrating our first home international, nearly 54 years later.

"We're so honoured and proud to have the plaque put up to mark the moment."

All the Lionesses "from one to 241 are a family", she added.

"We're proud to be the group that started it."

FA chair Debbie Hewitt added the 1973 match was part of the Lionesses' history that had gone "relatively untold".

"The 1973 England squad were pioneers who drove the game forward in England, they played with a belief in building something bigger and a determination to break down barriers to create more opportunities for future Lionesses to reap the benefits of."

The group also received congratulatory messages from Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman and captain Leah Williamson.

England women will officially mark the 500th game milestone in Reykjavik on Saturday.

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