Get your kit on!

We grew up with sisters and girls wanting to join in our game of football at the park, but the instant they punted the ball with their toe a collective male groan could be heard. This image is embedded in the memories of every man, which is why when women's football is mentioned we make jokes, such as, 'How can you take a free kick in high heels?', 'Does the goalie wear washing-up gloves?' and 'Don't break a nail during a throw-in!'

The jokes have been volleyed back at us, as the popularity of women's football has grown considerably over the past decades. Women's football was banned in England from 1921 until 1971, but in a few months the sixth UEFA European Women's Championship kick off in Manchester.

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Sweden will travel to host country England to compete for the brand new trophy, after the original was presented to Germany for winning their third consecutive title in 2001. The German women's team is ranked number one, they won both the senior and U-19 world champions and have dominated the European competition since its inception in 1991, taking the title five times.

Finland, ranked 16th in the world, has managed to qualify for the last eight of a major senior UEFA tournament for first time and is hoping to make an impact on the competition. Geoffrey Thompson, England's Football Association chairman stated, "The last final in Germany drew a crowd of 18,000 and I hope our fans will come and watch it. International women's football is an entertaining game and a great sport."

The English FA wants the tournament to inspire more girls to participate in football and sport in general. In 2002, it was estimated that 1.4 million girls had taken up the game and was the most popular women's and girl's sport. It does not end there, Finland, who are participating in their country's first major football tournament finals, are also working hard to develop the infrastructure of the game.

The Football Association of Finland (SPL) hosted a women's tournament in 2001 and has an estimated 20,000 Finnish girls playing football every week. One of those girls playing in the Finnish Championships League (SM-sarja) is Johanna Aromaa, 28, who has been playing football for 20 years. "I have always liked sports. I don't remember exactly why I started because I was so young. Maybe it was because most of my friends had also started."

Johanna has never faced any problems from Finnish guys about playing football, "I think that nowadays most men think that it's ok when women play football compared, for example, to ice hockey, which I have also played. Most of the men think that ice hockey isn't for women." Finland has developed women's football so much that there are now three divisions consisting of the of a top Championships League consisting of ten teams, followed by the First Division split into West and East divisions, and then there are Second and Third Divisions.

Playing for Malmi Football Club (MPS) and her love of world football gives her some authority on the game, Johanna believes that the men's game is stronger and quicker than women's, and thinks that the teams should not be mixed because the likelihood of women picking up injuries is far greater.

Turning to the summer tournament in England she is happy that all of Finland's matches will be broadcast on television, "I hope that Finland will succeed in the women's Euro Championships because that gives the opportunity to add publicity; the women's game needs more publicity in the newspapers, magazines and TV. I hope that Finland will succeed but, if I am realistic, I have to say that Sweden and Germany are the strongest teams."

When it comes to the best female footballer she admits it is a tough decision but there are some names to watch out for in the coming Championships, "Swede Hanna Ljungberg, many people think that she is one of the best female footballers in the world." Another player to check out is the Finn Laura Kalmari, "She was the top goal scorer in the Swedish Championship League last season, which is one of the best leagues in the world."

The future of women's looks set, as Championships and Leagues are being formed all over the world and that is not all. There are now female referees, lineswomen, managers, directors and it seems only a matter of time before the tea lady is replaced by a man.