Pitch and Strike
Pitch and Strike was set up in 2024 to celebrate women’s activism on the football pitch and in coal mining communities and to celebrate and commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the 1984/5 Miners’ Strike. It is co-organised by grassroots footballer and community activist, Sarah Choonara and the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) Secretary, Kate Flannery. It is inspired by the 1921 ‘Soup Kitchen’ footballers – women who played football matches to raise much needed funds in striking mining communities. The elitist, patriarchal establishment then ensured that women faced a footballing ban at the end of 1921. We are determined to remember these women and commemorate and celebrate the activism and political struggles of women and gender minorities in South Yorkshire.
The inaugural event chaired by OTJC Chris Peace began with speakers and took place in October 2024 with a talk from Sarah about the 1921 Soup Kitchen matches that women’s football teams across the country put on to support and raise money for striking miners during that year. In the December of that very same year the Football Association (FA) banned women’s football stating, “the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged.” Flis Callow from Sheffield Women Against Pit Closures spoke about Women Against Pit Closures in the 1984-5 strike and the Women’s Pit Camps of 1992-3. Chris spoke about the work of the OTJC and the importance of an Orgreave inquiry. This was followed by a wonderful inaugural Pitch and Strike football match!
The second fantastic Pitch and Strike event was organised in Sheffield in June 2025 with a brilliant game of football and speeches from Sarah about the history of women’s football and links to strikes and activism and Sheffield Lift the Ban campaigning for the rights of people in the UK asylum system. Kate talked about Women Against Pit Closures and gave an update about the OTJC and the latest news about campaigning for an Orgreave Inquiry.
Our third year of Pitch and Strike held in May 2026 was another great combination of politics and grassroots football. This event was named Pitch and Strike ‘General Strike’ recognising the 100th year anniversary of the 1926 General Strike. We had a talk from Sarah on the magnificent and often ignored role of women during the General Strike. We heard from Davinder representing Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Sheffield Palestine Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid about support for children’s access to football in Gaza and alternatives to the World Cup to organise football matches to give messages of hope. Kate also gave some background to the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign and the good news about the Orgreave Inquiry which was launched in March 2026. This was followed by a friendly and inclusive football match in the spirit of the ‘Soup Kitchen’ players.
Thank you to all the amazing speakers, footballers and audiences who have taken part in these uplifting events and to our brilliant sponsors – Sheffield Trade Union Council, UNITE and ASLEF.
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