‘Our first No 7’: Lynda Hale, pioneer who scored in England’s first women’s match, dies

Lynda Hale and her 1972 teammates acknowledge the fans at half-time during the women's international friendly between England and USA at Wembley in 2022. Photograph: Naomi Baker/The FA/Getty Images

Tributes are being paid after the death at the age of 72 of the trailblazing footballer Lynda Hale, who scored in England’s first official women’s international fixture.

Hale, who was also a seven-time winner of the Women’s FA Cup as part of the Southampton Women’s FC side that dominated the English game throughout the 1970s, started the Lionesses’ first formal game, against Scotland in November 1972.