This summer, 24 women’s football teams will compete in the eighth FIFA Women’s World Cup. Held in France the tournament is set to be the most successful yet. But women’s football actually has a much longer history in England than most people realise.

In 1895, one of the first recorded women’s football matches took place in London. In 1993, women’s football came under the governance of The Football Association for the first time. The century between tells an incredible story. From huge popularity during World War One, to being banned by The FA in 1921, to today’s game which is thriving like never before.

Explore a century of women’s football through a display of unique archive material.

Image: England’s Jan Murray under pressure from Iceland defender Arney Maenusdottir, 1992. With kind permission of Patricia Gregory.