Manchester Corinthians Pioneers Honored, Paved Way for Lionesses

On April 2nd, four trailblazing women from the Manchester Corinthians football team got

honored this week at the Manchester Evening News offices.

Anne Grimes 88, Myra Lipnichige 90, Jean Wilson 77, and Marlene Cook 84, played for the squad

formed back in.

1949, it started till Percy Ashley could feel the team for his deaf daughter Doris, who

had real talent on the pitch.

They defied a football association ban on women's games that lasted from 1921 until 1971.

These pioneers dodged the rules by playing charity matches at home and abroad, drawing

massive crowds.

They went from tiny local games in front of just six fans to 50,000 spectators across

Europe and South America.

Sponsored by the Red Cross, they became the first women's team to tour South America

in 1960, be Juventus for a cup in 1970.

Even won an unofficial European title against Germany.

The players faced stigma back then, with some keeping their involvement secret from work

or family.

Anne from Drollsden got time off from her typing job for tours that stretched from three

weeks to three months.

Jean from Bernage earned her England cap in the first official international against Scotland

in 1972, on a freezing, snowy pitch.

50 years later, she picked it up at Wembley.

Last month, the FA finally issued a formal apology, recognizing the Corinthians as pioneers

who paved the way despite the ban.

A new documentary called The Corinthians, we were the champions, shares their story,

with screenings rolling out soon, including Seven Nights in, Stodport starting April 17th.

Maira, the oldest survivor who joined in 1954, never dreamed she'd see that apology in

her lifetime.

Her grit laid the groundwork for today's Lionesses, who won the European title in 2022

and held it in 2025.

Marlene nailed it when she said real change means equal facilities, sponsorship, and coverage

for girls' teams.

That's the true payoff moving forward.