A football revolution is underway stateside.

The first women's professional league was launched in America last weekend to a fanfare of trumpets and the cheering of large crowds.

Over 34,000 turned up in Washington for the opening match of this footballing odyssey on Saturday and another 20,000 were happily munching their popcorn and whooping with delight on Sunday, when the Philadelphia Charge beat San Diego Spirit 2-0.

Both games were also available on coast-to-coast television.

The Philadelphia match was significant back in Blighty, because it marked the debut of our very own Kelly Smith.

The England striker scored one and made another when she was hauled down for a penalty.

FA keen to learn

Not a bad way to mark your introduction into football's big time.

All the fuss and hullaballoo across the Atlantic makes you wonder how an English professional league will fare when it launches in two years' time.

Crowds of 20,000 plus are slightly optimistic, but there are things that the British can learn from the Americans, according to the FA.

"We are currently trying to plan a trip out there to see how they're doing everything," admitted FA Brand Manager Sarah Harris.

"We really do want to start a positive relationship with them because although the men's game over there is not up to the same standard as ours, the women's game is way ahead.

"But in terms of comparing, well it is completely different, culturally and socially.

"They had a real boost to women's football when they passed the equal funding act for college system over there.

Professional league 'inevitable'

"That helped raise the profile of the sport over there and they haven't looked back really.

"But there are certainly things we could learn for sure."

Talking to American sponsors and media is another option for the FA, who are exploring ways in which they can best introduce a professional league here without the prospect of failure, or even worse indifference.

Indeed Soho Square are currently engaged in extensive market research to try to establish the sponsorship, media and marketing potential of a league.

"We've been talking to lots of people and we will continue to do so," explained Harris.

"We've completed phases one and two and now it's time for phase three, which means talking to the media, press and television representatives and trying to see how much interest they would have in a professional league.

"But we've already talked to fans who go to men's football and the results have been fascinating. Most said they would go to women's football and they thought a pro league was inevitable.

Sponsorship

"They had some doubts about the size of crowds for women's games, but they said they would go in big numbers."

One of the advantages available to the FA, is the immense marketability of football at present.

Nationwide's current sponsorship deal with the powers that be, runs out at the end of next season and if they don't want to renew their deal, there are plenty of companies that would.

They and others could also be persuaded to lend their support to women's football as well.

"We are looking to have a brand that is focused entirely on the women's game so that they can take over the women's league when it launches.

"The football market is so cluttered, that sponsors are always looking for new products.

That's where women's football could come into its own."