The Women's FA was formed and recognised by the FA in 1971. That year England had 44 women's clubs. The game that football developed from was Shrove Tuesday football. Football was initially frowned upon. A proclamation by king Edwards II in 1314 forbade on pain of imprisonment the playing of football in city streets.
Similar prohibitions show the game's popularity in Scotland.
In 1583 one commentator described football as characterised by murder, homicide and great effusion of blood. Football was a massively popular game and gradually evolved over the centuries to the game we know and love today.