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| Official cap a women's game milestone, says 'original Lioness' | Official cap a women's game milestone, says 'original Lioness' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pat Mitchell-Firth was given an unofficial England cap by women's football pioneer Flo Bilton after scoring a hattrick on her international debut | Pat Mitchell-Firth was given an unofficial England cap by women's football pioneer Flo Bilton after scoring a hattrick on her international debut |
| One of the "original Lionesses" says receiving her FA cap nearly 50 years after her England debut marks a key milestone for the women's game. | One of the "original Lionesses" says receiving her FA cap nearly 50 years after her England debut marks a key milestone for the women's game. |
| Pat Mitchell-Firth, originally from Leeds, scored a hat-trick in England's first official home match in 1973. | |
| When England take on the United States on Friday night at Wembley, the pioneers of English women's football will be presented with an FA cap. | When England take on the United States on Friday night at Wembley, the pioneers of English women's football will be presented with an FA cap. |
| Mitchell-Firth said her team "set the foundation" for the current Lionesses. | Mitchell-Firth said her team "set the foundation" for the current Lionesses. |
| The 65-year-old, who now lives in Redruth, Cornwall, is one of 140 former players who will be attending the sold out match, which kicks off at 20:00 BST. | The 65-year-old, who now lives in Redruth, Cornwall, is one of 140 former players who will be attending the sold out match, which kicks off at 20:00 BST. |
| Pat Mitchell-Firth, then 16, wore number 9 during her England debut against Scotland | Pat Mitchell-Firth, then 16, wore number 9 during her England debut against Scotland |
| "It's final recognition that the FA have recognised that women play football, and play football well," Mitchell-Firth said. | "It's final recognition that the FA have recognised that women play football, and play football well," Mitchell-Firth said. |
| The then 16-year-old was given an unofficial home-made cap made by women's football pioneer Flo Bilton after her hattrick in an 8-0 win against Scotland in June 1973 in Nuneaton. | The then 16-year-old was given an unofficial home-made cap made by women's football pioneer Flo Bilton after her hattrick in an 8-0 win against Scotland in June 1973 in Nuneaton. |
| Mitchell-Firth went on to play 11 times for England, scoring nine goals, but was forced to retire from the game aged 21 after a cartilage injury. | Mitchell-Firth went on to play 11 times for England, scoring nine goals, but was forced to retire from the game aged 21 after a cartilage injury. |
| "The surgeon said, 'what one earth are you doing playing football? Women's bodies aren't made to play football'," she said. | "The surgeon said, 'what one earth are you doing playing football? Women's bodies aren't made to play football'," she said. |
| First England team 'no longer being ignored' | First England team 'no longer being ignored' |
| 'We had it rough, we had to really fight' | 'We had it rough, we had to really fight' |
| England to celebrate 50th anniversary at USA game | England to celebrate 50th anniversary at USA game |
| Mitchell-Firth met Beth Mead and other current Lionesses during a recent England training session | Mitchell-Firth met Beth Mead and other current Lionesses during a recent England training session |
| Mitchell-Firth was one of several former players who met the current crop of Lionesses during a training session on Tuesday and compared the modern team's facilities as "world's apart" from the initial squad. | Mitchell-Firth was one of several former players who met the current crop of Lionesses during a training session on Tuesday and compared the modern team's facilities as "world's apart" from the initial squad. |
| England's first official women's team, who played their inaugural international match on 18 November 1972, will be presented with their caps at Wembley. | England's first official women's team, who played their inaugural international match on 18 November 1972, will be presented with their caps at Wembley. |
| Subsequent players - Mitchell-Firth included - will receive theirs at a later date. | Subsequent players - Mitchell-Firth included - will receive theirs at a later date. |
| "I think it's going to be a bit of an anti-climax, because if it comes through the post it's going to be the postman who gives me my England cap," she said. | "I think it's going to be a bit of an anti-climax, because if it comes through the post it's going to be the postman who gives me my England cap," she said. |
| Mitchell-Firth, who later had a 30-year career as a driving instructor, added: "When the Lionesses won the Euros I'm not ashamed to say that I cried my eyes out. | Mitchell-Firth, who later had a 30-year career as a driving instructor, added: "When the Lionesses won the Euros I'm not ashamed to say that I cried my eyes out. |
| "As women footballers we've come a heck of a long way in 50 years, but it has taken 50 years." | "As women footballers we've come a heck of a long way in 50 years, but it has taken 50 years." |
| Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |