In 1949, a group of women in Manchester did something unthinkable: they started a football club. The Manchester Corinthians Ladies FC didn't just kick a ball around—they lit a fuse that would explode decades later into the women's game we know today.
Imagine a world where the Football Association banned women from playing on any affiliated pitch. That ban lasted from 1921 to 1971. Yet the Corinthians defied every brick wall, every sneer, every locked gate. They played on dusty fields, borrowed kits, and sheer nerve.
Their trophy cabinet bulged with victories that stretched far beyond England. They beat Juventus 1-0 in 1970. They toured the world, proving that women's football wasn't a joke—it was a powerhouse waiting to be unleashed.
For decades, their story faded into whispers. But now, as women's football explodes into the global spotlight, the Corinthians are finally getting the recognition they deserve. The Women's Football Awards will formally honour them as the pioneers who shaped the sport.
Surviving members of the squad will accept the award. Their voices, captured in a feature-length documentary, bring that lost history roaring back to life. These fearless women refused to accept the limits others tried to place on them.
Jamie Carragher put it simply: they didn't just play football—they changed it forever. Every girl who laces up boots today inherits their legacy. Toni Duggan, former England star, agrees: without the Corinthians, she says, none of this would be possible. Their courage paved the way for generations.
This isn't just a nostalgia trip. It's a thunderclap of recognition for the women who built the foundation of modern women's football. Their story, once buried, now stands as a beacon for every player, coach, and fan who believes the beautiful game belongs to everyone.
