Member of the England squad from 1976
Pat Chapman has lodged a claim with the Guinness Book of Records with her claim to be the first player to score 6 goals in a national Cup Final – the WFA Cup Final of 1978 when Southampton beat QPR 8-2 at Slough Town F.C.
I started playing for Southampton in 1972 at a time when women’s football was mostly followed by friends and family. My first games were in Germany on a tour where it was clear that German football was ahead of ours … Southampton was then by far the best team in England with naturally gifted players. I had played football all my life as I had 2 brothers and a sports-mad father who always encouraged me ….. I played netball for the County , athletics for the County but football was always my first love. I played in 6 cup finals and I’m sure I hold the record for most goals scored in cup finals … women’s football at that time I believe paved the way for the women’s game today. We played on council pitches and paid our own travel, there were very few Sponsors even for the best teams. I played nearly 30 times for England travelling to Europe. Not many players get to play for their country and for me it was always a very proud occasion – even then we were lucky if we got a free pair of boots and never got to keep shirts or kit. My only cap was made by Flo Bilton. I have many happy memories of my football career, playing for Southampton was indeed one of them – some great players … Sue Lopez, Sue Buckett, Lynda Hale, Pat Davies, Maggie Pearce. I could go on … all international players, wonderful natural players. I suppose we were the team with the biggest following and I can honestly say that once anyone watched us play they always came back. What I would have given to have played one of those finals at Wembley but our finals were played at non-league football clubs which at the time we thought was marvellous. I have many highlights in my career, I always enjoyed playing at big football grounds – Leicester City, Southampton, Reading, Exeter even the Olympic Stadium in Rome and the Wembley Arena. However for me it was my home town club Portsmouth, playing at Fratton Park with my dad watching , a life-long Pompey supporter was just the best for me and scoring a goal was just the icing on the cake. I suppose my England highlight was being a part on the silver medal team that lost to Sweden in the final played at Luton Town. We played so well over those months, beating teams well above our ranking .. a truly memorable occasion. I follow women’s football now and I can see that over the last season the improvement has been huge but we had none of that – no sponsors, no training camps, no professional help from clubs but we were good players in good teams paving the way for the game today. So many people behind the scenes worked so hard to get the women’s game recognised… we weren’t paid we did it for the love of the game. Where is the recognition for the people and players. How many of the 70’s players are in the Hall of Fame because I could name a dozen who are not there. Where are the thanks for everyone who worked so hard to get things started … what I would give for one of the caps they get now. Finally, to all those players of that era I say … well done for your endeavours, you played because you loved the great game of football. As my sister often tells me “what a shame, you were born too soon.”
May 2017
History of the Women's Football Association 