Remembering WA female football pioneer Barbara Gibson

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Football West would like to acknowledge the service to WA female football of Barbara Gibson, who has died aged 95.

An Honorary Life Member of Football West, ‘Barbi’ did not play football until her 40s when she turned out for Inglewood Kiev. But that was just the start of years of commitment to the round ball game.

She first became Secretary of the Western Australian Women’s Soccer Association (WAWSA) committee in 1975, and served until 1985. She was also Treasurer as well as the long-standing Manager of the Senior State Women’s Team, overseeing tours to Malaysia (1977) and India (1980).

She was elected as President of the WAWSA in 1986 and represented WA at all delegate meetings held by the Australian Women’s Soccer Association (AWSA).

In the same year, she became Assistant Secretary with the Soccer Federation of WA, and 10 years later, she was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame WA.

In 2000, Barbara received the Australian Sports Medal for her services to sport.

Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell said: “On behalf of Football West, I offer my condolences to Barbara’s family and friends.

“She gave decades of service to our game and to female football in particular. When we marvel at the incredible spectacle of over 70,000 fans turning out to cheer on the Matildas in a major international final, we should also remember the pioneers of the women’s game, such as Barbara, who helped lay the foundation stones.”