Foreword

A guest foreword opening the 20th-anniversary souvenir issue, written by Rachel Pavlou of the FA’s women’s football development team, who notes she has been in post since 1998 rather than the full twenty years. She admits to owning every edition of the magazine, stored chronologically and in mint condition, and calls it a piece of history. Recalling one of her first voluntary roles as press officer for Villa Aztecs, now Aston Villa Ladies, she describes how hard it was to find content to keep fellow players informed before the internet, and the surprise and delight when a national magazine about their own sport appeared in newsagents. She thanks Jen, Andy, John, Anth, Wilf and the team on behalf of the FA, players, volunteers, coaches and officials, crediting them with raising the game’s profile through thick and thin.