Footnotes: The Writing of Football - Dr Carrie Dunn

Footnotes returns! We are delighted to be back with another four events exploring the writing of the beautiful game. Third, writer Carrie Dunn on the hidden history of the women's game in England.

Footnotes: The Writing of Football - Dr Carrie Dunn

The University of Cambridge and Cambridge United FC unite once again for 2025/26 to present Footnotes: The Writing of Football seminar series. Over the next few months we will once more bring four speakers to explore, examine and dissect the writing behind the beautiful game.

Spanning non-fiction, journalism and academic writing forms, each speaker will offer a unique perspective from their personal and professional experiences on how writing around football functions, and what it seeks to do in each specific space it finds itself in.

Each event will take attendees deep into their respective world, with audiences invited to engage in discussion and questions at the close. All events are entirely free and open to all.

Third up on Wednesday 11th February at 6pm we welcome Carrie Dunn. Carrie is a writer who's recent books include ‘Unsuitable for Females: The Rise of the Lionesses and Women’s Football in England’ (Arena Sport, 2022), shortlisted for Football Book of the Year in 2023. She is also the author of ‘Woman Up – Pitches, Pay and Periods: The Progress and Potential of Women’s Football’ (Legend, October 2023), which tells the story of the game through an exploration of the challenges its players continue to overcome. She has covered England at international tournaments since 2005 and is a regular voice on radio as well as podcasts. She has a PhD in sport sociology, and her particular research specialism is in women’s experience of sport. Her own footballing career began - and ended - with the Junior Hatters' supporters' club in her hometown of Luton.

Carrie joins us to discuss the hidden history of the womens game in England. As World Cup finalists and two-time European champions, England’s Lionesses are now on the front and back pages, on prime-time TV, and in the national honours lists for their contribution to their sport and to society. Today they are top athletes – and top celebrities – but in 1921 the Football Association banned women’s football, pronouncing it ‘quite unsuitable for females’. That ban lasted fifty years. Carrie here talks us through the long history of women's football and the subversive women who blazed a trail, right through to its glorious present, looking to its exciting future and exploring the challenges its players still face, whether that's pitches, pay or periods.

We can't wait to see you there!

Please note this will take place in the usual location of Lecture Theatre A (Arts School) New Museum Site. The entrance can be found through the gates directly opposite the Bath House pub. what3words - palace.finest.neon

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Dr Joseph Powell