Manchester referee appointed to City-Arsenal clash
Manchester referee appointed for the City-Arsenal clash this Sunday.
A blue plaque has been unveiled in Nuneaton to honor the site of the England women's football team's first home match, where they defeated Scotland 8-0 in 1973. The event coincides with the Lionesses' upcoming 500th international match against Iceland.
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Members of the 1973 squad gathered for the unveiling on Thursday [England Football]
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'."
A blue plaque now marks the occasion [England Football]
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.
The England women's football team won their first home match against Scotland with a score of 8-0.
The blue plaque was unveiled at Manor Park in Nuneaton.
The Lionesses' 500th international match is scheduled to be played against Iceland on Saturday.
Manchester referee appointed for the City-Arsenal clash this Sunday.
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"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 former Lionesses took part in a game with local players [England Football]
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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