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[Steve Russell]

‘The Journey & Memories of Queens Park Rangers Ladies Football Club in the 1970’s’

On 22nd March, Judith Orsmond launched her eagerly awaited book to correspond
with the QPR Women’s home game against Actonians.

Prior to that, she had been a guest on Robert Elms’ Show on BBC Radio London.

Judith’s press release follows:
'Now you would think why would someone want to write a book about women’s football
back in the 1970’s?

When people used to say women can’t play football, you then ask them if they have actually
seen women play and usually their answer was no. So don’t judge before you have seen!

My name is Judith Orsmond and I was a pioneer back in the 1970’s playing for QPR Ladies.

Women’s football was not in your face or even advertised for people to know that it even
existed until a few years ago.

So, when the women’s game hit the headlines, not only here in the UK, but globally around
the world, I had a thought!

I had a vision about writing a book to highlight all the challenges and obstacles that we faced
back then, and to make everyone aware that it was not like it is today in the world of women’s
football, so that is what I did.

I said to myself that we have a story to tell, a story to share, and most importantly a story to
make everyone aware of what the women’s game was like when we all played back in the 1970’s.

So that blank screen on my laptop just grew and grew, and it ended up as a passion for me with
300 pages.

The book contains a wealth of history, facts, statistics, stories, and numerous images from QPR
women’s football during the 1970’s.

By comparing those times to the current game, you’ll learn how much the sport has evolved since
then.

The book begins with forewords from Alan, the original coach of the team, as well as from two iconic
QPR figures, Dave Thomas and Gerry Fancis.

Following this, you will embark on a journey that highlights the state of women’s football in the 1800’s
and the establishment of our club in 1969.

So, in the early 1970’s it was a fresh start for a lot of teams. Many were formed like ourselves, when
there was no funding, we played on poor, hard, bumpy pitches with no facilities and no media coverage.

We paid for our kit, training materials, the hiring of pitches, referees, and travelling expenses.

It details the extremely limited training facilities available, which consisted of a narrow strip of grass
next to the prison walls at Wormwood Scrubs, complete with their floodlights.

We played in Thailand on a trip of a lifetime, some of us were only 15 at the time. We played in front of
30,000 people in their national stadium.

But when we got back, the FA threw the book at us, quoting that we did not have permission to go and play!

We were banned from playing for a while, kicked out of the women’s FA Cup, fined, and the secretary was
suspended!

The book also highlights the sexism that we faced during that era with people quoting how it was not appropriate
for women to play football.

And then we go onto the FA ban that lasted from 1921 to 1971, banning women playing on any affiliated grounds.

We certainly had some highs in our time, winning the South-East Counties league and cup on a couple of occasions.

When we first started, we won numerous five-a-side tournaments, but our greatest triumph was being the first
London club to win the Women’s FA Cup in 1977.

The book is not just for people who follow football, it’s an interesting read and it’s a book that you can dip in and
out of over time.

You will see what we were like as a team, the laughs we had, the camaraderie that cemented a bond never to be
broken even now, 50 years plus.

It’s a friendship that has lasted decades and is still going strong today, because we faced and did everything together
when all we wanted to do was play football.

Comparing the 1970’s to the world of women’s football today is one of the biggest transformations in sport.

We as a team would never have dreamed it would reach the heights it has become today.

So, if you want to know more, and would like a copy, then please private message me on Facebook (Judy Orsmond),
and I can post you a copy.

The cost is £10.00 plus £2.70 postage, or you can buy it on Ebay, by searching ‘QPR Ladies Football book in the 1970’s.’

I hope to hear from you.’

I was pleased to meet up with Judith before the game and purchase a copy of her book, which is highly recommended.

As for the match, it was a 1-0 win for the R’s.