Gill Sayell
Gill enjoyed playing football with her four brothers and played in a boys’ team when she was 8. She was known as Billy. Other teams didn’t like her playing so Gill managed to get into a girls team when she was 12 at Thame. Football became a major part of her parents life as well transporting Gill to training and games. Her father later managed the Aylesbury ladies team which had to travel far afield to find other ladies teams to play.
She was 14 when she became part of Harry’s 14 ladies England squad. When they arrived in Mexico they were greeted by photographers not realising the photographers were there to take pictures of the squad. The squad stayed in the same hotel as the 1970 England World Cup team had. She remembers the noise of the stadium and the matches being more physical with the South American teams playing dirty tricks.
Later Gill’s Aylesbury team became the first Arsenal Women’s team so she was a founder member. She continued playing until she was 34. Gill was never paid for playing but had to travel to Highbury 3 times a week and work each day.
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Good afternoon. I watched with great interest the recent programme concerning Gill and the Mexico football match. About the same time, 1970 to 1975, I knew Julie Beavis, a girl who lived along Windmill Lane, Bursledon near Southampton in Hampshire. She was a very pretty ‘tomboy’ with lovely green eyes. My friend, who lived just down the lane from Julie, and I had fancy mopeds (Geared!) and she often appeared to ‘have a go’ on one of ours. She, too, was interested in football and I think played in The Southampton Ladies team and perhaps the national side on a couple of occasions. The last time I saw her must have been about 10 years ago in the Old House At Home in Romsey, Hampshire, where I now live. I don’t think she was very well and I haven’t seen or heard about her since then. If Gill has heard of Julie and/or kept in touch, perhaps she could contact me. I could go into greater depth about Julie and her past but it isn’t necessary. Look forward to hearing from someone!
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