Women's football historian explains how significant the Euros 1984 match has become
Kimberley: Jean, can you put into context for me the impact that Kerry and Pia have had on the women’s game?
Jean: A lot of people don’t realise that the 1984 European women’s championship predates the world cup by 7 years. It was really a kind of experimental tournament it wasn’t even given a name of the Euros at the time. The final was played over two legs, one in Sweden so that Sweden could play in their home ground, and then one in England, and in fact it only took place in Kenilworth road because the club had Swedish connections. The return leg Luton was known as the Battle of Kenilworth Bog because the pitch was so bad, and it wasn’t even a pitch really it was a ploughed field. Sweden dominated in their first leg, England dominated in their leg, and then it was rather impromptu, it was tied, how are we gonna finalise this? And so it was just decided more or less on the toss of a coin to go to a penalty shootout.
Kimberley: And why is it so important that we continue to recognise Pia and Kerry’s era of footballers?
Jean: They were determined to be the role models for future generations. And I think Kerry and Pia both epitomise that really really well. Kerry in terms of representing their Caribbean black community, which is really important. And then Pia having gone on to become a world famous coach not only within Sweden who she lead to a home Euros in 2013, but also she’s gone to coach in the US, Brazil, and now back in Switzerland, and when I write about Pia I call her the internationalist, what she’s really known for is if she goes and coaches in Brazil, she will coach the players in Portuguese, she learns the languages, she learns the culture, and nobody did that for Pia, it’s a model that she’s developed for herself.
1984 was the year of the first European Women's Championship, then called the European Competition for Women's Football.
Only four teams competed - England, Sweden, Italy and Denmark - with six games played over seven weeks in all four countries.
England defeated Denmark 2-1 in front of an estimated crowd of just one thousand in the semi-final first leg at Crewe and would go on to win 3-1 on aggregate. Facing Sweden in the final, they lost 1-0 away in Gothenburg, so it was all to play for in the return leg.
Back then they played halves of 35 minutes instead of 45 and a smaller football was used. Many clubs in London turned down the chance to host the second leg of the final. Luton Town stepped in offering their Kenilworth Road ground.
The final wasn’t covered on television and most football fans were distracted by Everton winning the FA Cup, and Liverpool reaching the European cup final. The hugely significant moment of the first ever women's Euros in 1984 passed many people by.
The Women’s Euros 2025 competition runs from 2nd until 27th July, you can find insight and full coverage on BBC Sport Women's Summer of Sport
This article was published in June 2025
Women's Euros: What was the first ever final like?
Former players Kerry Davis and Pia Sundhage on the first Women's Euro final in 1984
When is the Women's Euro and other facts about the tournament
What you need to know about the Women's European Championship 2025
Professional football: top tips from England's Women's World Cup team. video
Top tips from the Lionesses.