What really happened when the FA took over women’s football in 1993 – and why does it still matter today?

In this first episode of 2026, co-hosts Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton are joined by Rafaelle Nicholson of Bournemouth Media School to unpack the hidden history, politics and governance of women’s football in England – from the rise and fall of the Women’s Football Association (WFA) to today’s debates over WSL independence and the recent introduction of NewCo governance.

Drawing on archival evidence and first-hand accounts, the conversation challenges the long-standing claim that the 1993 handover was a “merger.” Instead, it argues it was a takeover – one that dismantled a rare, gender-balanced governing body and replaced it with male-dominated FA structures, with lasting consequences for representation, accountability and grassroots autonomy.

The episode explores:

• How the WFA (1969–1993) built women’s football during and after FA hostility
• Why the FA takeover reduced women’s voice in governance, even as the game later grew
• Cross-sport parallels in women’s cricket, rugby, and hockey under 1990s “single governing body” policies
• What today’s WSL/Newco model could learn from both the Premier League breakaway and past governance failures
• Why women’s sport is still treated as a media apprenticeship, and how journalism education may be quietly changing that

With women’s football booming on the pitch but still contested off it, this episode asks a blunt question: growth for whom, and at what cost? And as the WSL edges towards greater autonomy, are we about to repeat history – or finally correct it?

Essential listening for anyone interested in women’s football, football governance, the FA, the WSL, sports politics and the future of the women’s game.

For those interested in reading the full article by Raf, it is available at the Sport in History website here.

As the year comes to a close, FootPol examines what it really takes to build a career in women’s football — and how politics, policy and power shape pathways into the professional game. In this episode, co-hosts Guy Burton and Francesco Belcastro are joined by Sydney Minarik, former Clemson University defender, to discuss elite NCAA Division I women’s soccer, professional opportunities, and her upcoming move to Australia’s National Premier League (NPL). Drawing on her experience in one of the most competitive college football environments in the United States, Sydney offers an insider perspective on recruitment, positional change, and the shifting relationship between college soccer and the professional game.

The conversation goes beyond the pitch to explore the structures shaping women’s football globally. Guy, Francesco and Sydney discuss the long-term impact of Title IX, the effects of visa and immigration restrictions on international players, and the inequalities created by the U.S. pay-to-play system. They also examine ACL injuries, women-specific training and equipment, under-fueling, and the growing role of performance data and sports science — asking why women’s bodies have so often been overlooked, and what must change as the women’s game continues to grow.

FootPol will be back in January 2026 with more episodes exploring football and politics from around the world. Subscribe so they come through to you automatically!

Last Friday's 2026 World Cup draw in Washington DC kicks off a new mini-series running on the FootPol Podcast this season, about debutant nations heading to next year’s tournament. In this first episode, we turn to Uzbekistan — one of the most intriguing first-timers on the global stage.

Guy Burton and Francesco Belcastro are joined by Donat Iskanderov, a Central Asian groundhopper from Tashkent, to unpack how Uzbekistan reached its first-ever men’s World Cup and what that achievement means for the country. Together they explore the domestic football landscape and the evolution of the national team, shifting from early post-independence squads dominated by ethnic Russians to today’s Uzbek-led side that resonates far more with supporters. Donat discusses the political significance of qualification for the government’s “New Uzbekistan” narrative, the surge in national pride, and the young players now emerging in European leagues.

This episode sets the tone for our ongoing World Cup debutants series as we track the football, politics and identity shaping the newest members of the global game. Watch out for future episodes on Jordan, Cabo Verde and Curaçao!