Elsie Cook, Scottish Women's Football

That this House recognises the outstanding contribution of Elsie Cook to the development of women's football in the UK; notes that she founded the Scottish Women’s Football Association in 1972 and organised the first international women’s football game for Scotland's national team against England, in conjunction with Pat Gregory, then honorary secretary of the English Women’s Football Association; further notes that the game was played at the Ravenscraig stadium, Greenock, partly because of a longstanding ban by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) on the use of professional-level pitches and that the SFA did not recognise the women’s game formally until 1974, this first international was deemed unofficial; notes that Elsie was banned by the SFA from any involvement with the senior women’s team; notes that this match provided a goal scoring debut for Rose Reilly, who went on to win a world cup for her adopted nation team, the Italian national team, gli Azzure (the Blues); welcomes that her tireless campaigning helped to reverse the ban on women playing football in Scotland and applauds her for breaking down barriers and fighting for women football players to have the same rights and respect as men; commends Elsie for her recent receipt of a civic recognition certificate from East Ayrshire Council; believes that she deserves continued recognition nationally for her pioneering work in the women's game; and thanks Elsie for her continued support of her beloved club, Kilmarnock FC, where she remains a dedicated fan to this day.