AustLit

'In Women in Boots, Marion Stell and Heather Reid use the inaugural Trans-Tasman Cup competition of 1979-80 as a lens to examine the emergence of women’s football in Australia and New Zealand during the 1970s. This innovative book, which is co-authored by a sports historian and an experienced sports administrator, is based on extensive interviews with players from the Australian and New Zealand teams, complemented by surviving scrapbooks and newspaper coverage from the time. The illustrations, many sourced from players’ photo albums, are a rich primary source in themselves. The book has a loosely chronological structure, charting the development of women’s soccer in New Zealand and Australia, interspersed with thematic chapters on feminism, funding, media and sexuality. In this way, Women in Boots provides a social biography of the players and the game they played that is informed by gender and social history and focuses on the human experiences of the players. It is a rewarding read and a valuable addition to scholarship in the field.' (Introduction)