Skip to main content
Gillian Coultard: ‘I could have been the first woman to get a hat-trick’
Gillian Coultard

TWENTY five years ago today, England played their first-ever match in the Fifa Women’s World Cup finals. 

In the 51st minute, striker Karen Farley twisted away from her marker and was brought down by Canadian defender Michelle Ring in the penalty area.

Referee Eva Odlund pointed to the spot and a 31-year-old midfielder from Doncaster stepped forward to make English sporting history.

Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Ipswich Town's Liam Delap celebrates scoring their side's se
Men's Football / 29 September 2024
29 September 2024
Ipswich Town's Sammie Szmodics celebrates after scoring the
Men’s Football / 20 September 2024
20 September 2024
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna during the Carabao Cup s
Men's Football / 13 September 2024
13 September 2024
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Ipswich Town's Ben Johnson (ri
Men’s football / 23 August 2024
23 August 2024
Johnson says key factor in move to Suffolk is opportunity to develop as player
Similar stories
England's Ellie Kildunne during the Guinness Women's Six Nat
Women's Rugby Union / 19 December 2024
19 December 2024
Kildunne believes impact of home Rugby World Cup lies ‘beyond imagination’
Emma Hayes
Women's Football / 16 August 2024
16 August 2024
Beth Mead
Women’s football / 10 June 2024
10 June 2024
Lionesses duo ‘disgusted’ by news as ‘over 100 girls’ will be left without club
Mary Earps
Women’s football / 8 May 2024
8 May 2024