Copa 71: Film shows record-breaking women's World Cup

In 1971, an unofficial women’s football World Cup attracted crowds of more than 100,000, but was quickly erased from history. Now a new film tells the remarkable story of the tournament, and the disappointment that followed.

Although no official attendance figures exist, estimates suggest the final was watched by more than 100,000 people - which would make it the best-attended women’s sporting event in history.

Ironically, the tournament owed its success to the fact that world football’s governing body Fifa tried to block it.

Once the tournament was over, however, the participants came back down to earth with a jolt.

The English team’s manager, Harry Batt, was blacklisted by the fledgling Women’s Football Association, which was in the process of putting together the first official England team. Some players were also banned.