This week’s blog looks at a very special event that is less well known than it should be – England’s victory in the 1985 Mundialito Cup.
Outside of the Pony Home International Championship in 1976, this was the first tournament success for the England women’s team. England had narrowly lost the 1984 European Championship Final. But this time they went one better, beating Italy 3-1 to lift the enormous trophy.
England defenders Angele Gallimore and captain Carol Thomas have shared their memories, along with some rare photographs from Angela’s collection, to tell us more about this special moment in England’s history.
How did the tournament go?
Carol explained that it was a hectic schedule, with the team flying out, playing a four-game tournament, and then returning, all within the space of seven days. England even played Wales the day before they flew out, meaning that some players played five games in nine days. “Can you imagine that in these days?”
For Carol, this was her fifth trip to Italy. “So, after 12 games in Italy, the 1985 Munidalito was almost like a regular visit for me. Personally, over the years I had developed an appreciation of the culture and the Italian love of all things football. Their approach towards women’s football was much more inclusive and was a major participation and watched sport.”
England started with a 1-0 defeat to Denmark. The next day Kerry Davis scored in a 1-1 draw with Italy that kept England’s hopes of reaching the final alive. After a few days of light training and tactical preparations, England played their first ever game against the USA. While we now know the USA as the greatest team in the last 25 years of women’s international football, in 1985 they were just beginning to emerge.
Angela scored as England won 3-1 to reach the final, although it came at some personal cost for her. “I scored a diving header after a quick-free kick. Jackie Slack (left-back) went down the wing and crossed the ball. I had managed to get into the box and dived to meet the ball.”
“I actually missed the final as I had broken my nose…against the USA. I was hospitalized for two days but back to watch the final.”
This set up a final with the hosts Italy. It was watched by 10,000 spectators while the second half was broadcast on Italian television. The television coverage may account for why the game was held during the heat of the day, rather than in the cooler evenings, as had happened for earlier games. Marianne Space (2) and Brenda Sempare scored the goals in a 3-2 win.
Carol explained to us why the game is so special to her.
The matches are a bit of a blur after so many years (38 years), but the one thing that sticks out for me personally was the final. Lining up before the kick off, listening to the national anthems and suddenly realising that this was the 50th time I had captained England (in my 55th international). In one year, 1985, I had become the first woman player to represent England 50 times and now I was the first woman player captaining them for the 50th time, and in a World Cup Final …. talk about the stars lining up for you.
As always in such a prestigious match, the final whistle is a mixture of emotions, a moment of disbelief, a wave of total elation and the mandatory tears of joy. And let us not forget that enormous trophy that weighed a ton after a sweaty 90 minutes football.
It is only later that the feeling of disappointment hits you when you realise that you were not able to share this moment of success in your life with family, friends and fans.
What is so special about these photos?
They are hugely important for several reasons. Firstly, there was no dedicated coverage in the English press – unlike today, no journalists or photographers travelled from England to cover the team. We are reliant on the photographs that team officials or friends took themselves. Without them, this historic moment would have never been recorded.
Secondly, they capture the joy and elation of this special occasion, as Carol so movingly explained to us. In it we can see Carol lift the trophy to the delight of her teammates and manager Martin Reagan. According to Carol, the Italian fans “were very appreciative of the great game of football both sides put on and were very gracious towards us after the game despite the disappointment of their side losing.”
How was the win received at home?
Sadly, there was little interest in the English press. Surprisingly, even the WFA News did not dedicate much space to the tournament in its November issue. But in Angela Gallimore’s collection there is a very special photograph that shows the win being celebrated.
England’s first home game after the tournament wasn’t until the 16 March 1986, when they beat Northern Ireland 10-0 at Ewood Park, Blackburn. This photo shows the England squad and officials photographed on the pitch with several trophies, including the Mundialito Cup.
Where is the 1985 Mundialito Cup now?
We would love to know! When the Women’s Football Association merged with the FA in 1993, the WFA offices in Manchester were shut down. Some of their collection ended up at the FA Headquarters in Soho and were then passed to the passed to the National Football Museum to care for in 2001. But the trophy is not among them. If the trophy is ever found, we would love to display it so people can learn about this important moment in the story of the Lionesses.