BRIGHTON.- The Barclays FA Women’s Super League Trophy was unveiled at a brand-new exhibition celebrating women’s football at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery.

The trophy was on show with a dream squad of inspirational women representing over eight generations involved in the women’s game.

The Super League cup has been loaned to the exhibition for two weeks by The Football Association as part of the celebrations around the Women’s Euro championship taking place this summer.

Equivalent to the men’s Premier League and currently held by Chelsea FC Women, the trophy will be in the Goal Power! Women’s Football 1894 – 2022 exhibition until 29 June 2022.

Guests included Eileen Bourne, the first woman to be sent off for swearing in a football match, 86-year-old June Jaycocks who was one of the earliest volunteers with the FA, Chris Lockwood, Leah Caleb and Gill Sayell of the Lost Lionesses who played in the unofficial World Cup in 1971 and Kelly Simmons OBE, head of the FA. Others include Maggie Murphy, CEO of Lewes WFC, the first club offering equal pay to the men and women’s teams and Scotland’s real-life Gregory Girl, Rose Reilly MBE.

The show also includes a variety of important items to commemorate the growth of the women’s sport across the world. This includes the football shirts of former England player Eni Aluko and a shirt donated by US soccer star Meg Rapinoe as well as a pair of leather football boots from 1921 owned by munitions worker Fanny Williams.

CEO of The Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust Hedley Swain said: “We are excited to be hosting this important exhibition – a celebration of the women who have championed the cause of women’s football, closely linked to the wider campaign for women’s equality.

“With Brighton & Hove as one of the host cities for this summer’s Women’s EUROS we hope the exhibition will play its part in continuing the process of recognising the women’s game and bringing even more equality to world football.”

UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Arts and Heritage Programme

Over 26 action-packed days, 31 UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 matches will be played by 16 teams across 9 English cities from 6 – 31 July 2022. Running alongside the tournament, a full programme of arts and heritage activity is underway. In collaboration with the Host Cities – Brighton & Hove, London (Brent and Hounslow), Manchester, Milton Keynes, Rotherham, Sheffield, Southampton, Trafford and Wigan & Leigh – the programme will celebrate and explore the rich history of the women’s game. Through a series of arts and heritage events, it will bring the worlds of sport and art together in a national celebration which is set to reach 3 million people.

The arts and heritage programme for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 tournament is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, thanks to National Lottery players, and the Host Cities. The programme is managed by The Football Association (FA), the national governing body of football in England. It is supported by UEFA, Canal & River Trust and Mayors of London and Greater Manchester.