Manchester Corinthians to be honoured at Women’s Football Awards

Early Corinthians Ladies FC team pic, 1958. From the film The Corinthians We Were The Champions (Credit: Films Not Words)

The remarkable legacy of the most pioneering team in the history of women’s football is set to be formally recognised at the Women’s Football Awards.

he Manchester Corinthians Ladies FC was founded in 1949, paving the way for the women’s game today.

The club rose to prominence during a time when women’s football in England faced severe restrictions. In the wake of the Football Association’s 1921 ban, which prohibited women from playing on affiliated grounds, the Manchester Corinthians overcame significant institutional and cultural barriers to build a legacy of remarkable achievement.

Their success, which extended far beyond the UK, is now set to be recognised at a national industry awards ceremony. The Women’s Football Awards will formally recognise the Manchester Corinthians as being pivotal in shaping women’s football now.

Despite their achievements, the Corinthians’ story faded from public recognition for many years. Now, as women’s football continues its rapid growth, their contribution is being rightfully acknowledged.

The award will be accepted by surviving members of the squad, whose first-hand accounts have recently been captured in a feature-length documentary chronicling their journey.

This recognition at the Women’s Football Awards not only honours the legacy of Manchester Corinthians Ladies FC but also celebrates their lasting impact on the development of the women’s game.

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Jamie Carragher, who is co-hosting the Women’s Football Awards with Gabby Logan, commented: ‘The Women’s Football Awards will be celebrating a group of fearless pioneers who refused to accept the limits placed upon them.

‘The Manchester Corinthians didn’t just play football – they changed it forever. Their legacy is present in every girl and woman who plays football today.’

Manchester Corinthians Team Photo (Credit: Manchester Corinthians Families)

Manchester Corinthians return with a trophy after beating Juventus 1-0 in 1970 (Credit: Manchester Corinthians Families)

Former Manchester City, Barcelona and England footballer Toni Duggan, who is an ambassador for the Women’s Football Awards, said: ‘As an England women national football team player, you know you’re part of something bigger. But this wouldn’t have been possible for me or any of my former teammates without the likes of Manchester Corinthians.

‘They are the reason that we are here today. Their courage and love for the beautiful game has paved the way for generations of players like me – it is an honour to see their story celebrated.’

About the Women’s Football Awards

The Women’s Football Awards, in association with Metro, launched in 2023, is Europe’s first major awards event dedicated solely to celebrating achievement across the women’s game.

Created to recognise excellence at every level – from grassroots trailblazers to the biggest names on the global stage – the awards shine a spotlight on the players, organisations, brands and leaders driving the rapid growth of women’s football.

Now firmly established as the leading celebration of the sport in Europe, the Women’s Football Awards brings together the industry’s most influential figures each year to honour success, inspire progress, and champion the future of the game.

SHEIN Women’s Football Awards shortlist

Player of the Year

Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) Bunny Shaw (Manchester City) Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City) Jess Park (Manchester United) Ella Toone (Manchester United) Kiko Seike (Brighton & Hove Albion) Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa) Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal) Alessia Russo (Arsenal) Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City)

Young Player of the Year

Tōko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur) Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City) Michelle Agyemang (Brighton & Hove Albion) Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses) Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea) Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United) Grace Clinton (Manchester City) Aoba Fujino (Manchester City) Nelly Las (Leicester City) Ruby Mace (Everton) Lenna Gunning-Williams (Tottenham Hotspur)

International Player of the Year

Klara Bühl (Bayern Munich) Caroline Weir (Real Madrid) Alèxia Putellas (Barcelona) Romée Leuchter (Paris Saint-Germain) Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich) Ewa Pajor (Barcelona) Claudia Pina (Barcelona) Melchie Dumornay (Lyon) Tessa Wullaert (Inter Milan) Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid) Victoria López (Barcelona)

Club of the Year

Manchester City Wrexham London City Lionesses Manchester United Chelsea Glasgow City Tottenham Hotspur Arsenal Charlton Athletic Hearts Brighton & Hove Albion

Media Figure of the Year

Kelly Cates Karen Carney MBE Lianne Sanderson Laura Woods Reshmin Chowdhury Alex Scott MBE Mina Ibrahim Suzanne Wrack Katie Whyatt Faye Carruthers Mollie and Rosie Kmita

Best Marketing Campaign

Sports Direct & Fresh Base Productions – Legacy Starts Here AXA – Keep On Kicking Lidl – Never Stop Growing Adidas & Intersport – Make Football Their Game Chelsea & Here We Flo – We Don’t Bleed Blue. We Bleed. Period. PepsiMAX & Hope&Glory – Thirsty for More Unilever – Hellmann’s Russo Burger The FA & Disrupt – Made For This Game WSL Football & Anomaly – Watch This Nike & Wieden+Kennedy London – IIOME Heineken – Cheers to the Superstitious Fans

Best Grassroots Initiative

Liverpool FA – She Inspires GoCardless – Grassroots Football Partnership Tottenham Hotspur Foundation – Girls & Women Programme Flutter UK & Ireland – Cash4Clubs McDonald’s – Fun Football Steven Gerrard Academy – Girls Football Programme Electric Ireland – Game Changers NI Starling Bank – Kick On With Starling Octopus Energy – Kits For Kids Manchester City – City in the Community SP Energy Networks – Wrexham Partnership

Brand of the Year

Lucozade Sport Adidas EA Sports British Gas Skoda UK Rexona Barclays Adobe Three UK VISA Nike

Best Social Media

Juventus The FA – Lionesses Chelsea Newcastle United Aston Villa Tottenham Hotspur Bristol City Manchester United Rangers Manchester City Adobe – Women’s FA Cup

Global Impact Award

PlayStation VisitMalta VISA Adidas Iberdrola PepsiCo Booking.com Amazon Google Pixel Kynisca Nike

Best Fan Engagement

Disney+ EA Sports Chelsea London City Lionesses Birmingham City Panini Glasgow City Havas Play Charlton Athletic TikTok YouTube

Legal Team of the Year

Linklaters RPC Thackray Williams Evelyn Partners Lawrence Stephens Limited Penningtons Manches Cooper Tottenham Hotspur Legal Team Capital Law Mills & Reeve Paul Robinson Solicitors Bird & Bird

Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Award

Admiral Lidl Adobe Unilever Domestic & General Xero Apple RSK Bute Energy The Premier League Deloitte

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award

Arsenal EE Pixel FC Academy The FA West Ham United Mastercard Utilita Brighton & Hove Albion VISA Three UK Liverpool

Community Impact Award

Sunderland Carpenters Group Bristol City Crane Worldwide Logistics Her Game Too Xero London City Lionesses Domis Brighton & Hove Albion E.ON Goals4Girls

Football Business of the Year

ORRECO Mercury13 We Are Athlete CAA SPORTS Gravity Media LiveScore Group Foudys EA Sports Kynsica Sportfive Twenty3

Football Agency of the Year

Wasserman CAA SPORTS CMG SPORTS Gen Z Football Ignite Talent Tongue Tied Management PLG A&V Sports Group Gestifute Livida Sport Quantum Sport

Football Business Trailblazer

Kay Cossington Aki Mandhar Maggie Murphy Sarah Batters Zoe Johnson Jemma White Sola Kasali Charlotte O’Neill Laura Downey Laura Montgomery Liz Ellen

Best Breakthrough Business

E.l.f Beauty Modibodi Mercedes-Benz UK Airbnb British Gas Guinness AFTA Studios PLG Revolut Skechers Crocs EU

Women’s Football Champion

Rose Read Nadine Kessler Nikki Doucet Jemma White Michele Kang Ebru Köksal Debbie Hewitt MBE Joelle Murray Rachel Pavlou Simone Pound MBE Vic Akers OBE

Game Changer Award

Rachel Yankey OBE Gillian Coultard MBE Eartha Pond Shelley Kerr MBE Kelly Smith MBE Nikita Parris Ellen White MBE Gilly Flaherty Fran Kirby Ini Umotong Jess Fishlock MBE

Off The Pitch Award

Stephen Lansdown CBE Michael Williamson Matt Johnson Bethan Woolley Tammy Parlour MBE Lungi Macebo Rachel Pavlou Liz Ellen Lola Ogunbote Helen Hardy Jo Osborne

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