On 1 November 1969, representatives of 44 clubs attended the inaugural meeting at
Caxton Hall in
London. Six months later seven regional Leagues were represented at the first
AGM. The first secretary was
Arthur Hobbs, who was one of the founding members of the Women's Football Association; he had to leave up the post in 1972 due to poor health; he was succeeded by Patricia Gregory (1972–1982). In 1971, under pressure from
UEFA, the FA rescinded its ban on women playing football on the pitches of its member clubs. Also that year the WFA held the first national knock out cup; the Mitre Trophy, which became the
FA Women's Cup. It was intended that the resources and experience of the FA would capitalise on increased participation levels and arrest a decline in fortunes for the women's national team. The FA's subsequent performance did not meet with universal approval. Linda Whitehead, the WFA's secretary for 13 years prior to the switchover, said of the FA, "A lot of people felt very bitter. It wasn't what they wanted to do, it was the way they did it – they just rode roughshod all over us." In December 1994
Arsenal Ladies manager
Vic Akers lamented, "They [the FA] have been in charge 18 months now and they talk about a development plan. But I haven't heard a single word yet about what they actually intend to do." A 2006
Department for Culture, Media and Sport report into women's football concluded that the FA had been largely successful in developing and promoting the women's game in England.
Jean Williams reported that the WFA had been a "pretty leaky umbrella", particularly after 1985 when a lack of resources was compounded by infighting. Kelly Simmons, the FA's director of women's football, stated that "the WFA did a brilliant job as a voluntary organisation, but the amount of human and financial resources the FA could put behind women's football was a major change". == Founder clubs ==