Pioneering Women's Football in Galicia: A Legacy of the Gondomar Team
A look at the pioneering legacy of the Gondomar women's football team in Galicia.
Key Points
- • Carlos Estévez coached Gondomar, the first champion of women's football in Galicia in 1971.
- • The team was formed in 1970 with 13 girls and went undefeated in the first half of the league.
- • Gondomar lost to Pontevedra in a decisive match but won the championship based on goal average.
- • A event in 2021 commemorated the 50th anniversary of the women's football league in Galicia.
The history of women's football in Galicia is marked by pioneering efforts, most notably represented by the Gondomar women's football team, which was established amidst a landscape of limited opportunities. Carlos Estévez Magdalena, a key figure in this movement, recalls his experience as the team’s coach in 1971, the year they clinched the first women's football championship in the region.
The team, formed in 1970 by Lito Hermida, began with just thirteen girls from Gondomar and neighboring areas, ages 14 to 16. Their training sessions focused on fundamental football skills and physical fitness. The league commenced on February 29, 1971, featuring eleven competing teams, primarily from Vigo. Remarkably, Gondomar dominated the first half of the season, eventually battling Pontevedra in a crucial match for the championship on August 7, 1971. Although they lost that match 1-0, they secured the championship based on their superior goal average due to earlier victories.
At the time, this league was unique in Galicia; other nearby teams had not yet participated in any official structure, limiting their play to friendly matches. Potentially changing dynamics were hinted at when FC Barcelona showed interest in one of Gondomar's standout players, Pichi, though the offer was declined by her family.
In a testament to this legacy, a commemorative event was held in August 2021 at the As Gallandas football field to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the league. This gathering honored the original players and coaches, reinforcing Estévez's claim to being a pioneer in Galicia's women's football history. Today, Gondomar supports two women's teams, echoing the enduring influence of the league's inception.