Category Archives: Free

Video of History Of Women’s Football Talk

If you’re interested in women’s football or in football in Trafford or Manchester then get your self a brew, settle down and enjoy this video of my talk. It was part of my work on the #WEuro2022 Heritage Lottery funded project and my long standing project into the history of women’s football in Manchester. Here goes:

This talk on the history of women’s football was staged at the National Football Museum a few years back. The talk lasts about 47 mins. Enjoy!

The history of women’s football in Trafford is documented in the new book on women’s football I’ve co-edited. You can find out more about that here:

Book Launch at the Embassy of Ireland

My work on the Manchester Corinthians continues and you can find out about the Authorised History here:

Manchester Corinthians

Thank You

On Saturday 2 August we managed to stage another wonderful free event celebrating the pioneering Manchester Corinthians women’s team. This included a film show, talk and (most importantly) interviews with 6 Corinthians covering every era of the club’s existence. There were other Corinthians in the audience plus Wayne Murray (representing his mum and auntie – Elaine & Shirley Orange), Issy Pollard (Doncaster Belles & England) and Dennis Tueart (Manchester City, Sunderland and England).

Keeping to the best traditions of the Corinthians this free event also raised funds for the Hebden Bridge Women’s walking football team – several players were in attendance wearing their football shirts too.

Hebden Bridge was important to some of the recent promotion of the Corinthians’ stories. It was here in 2021 that I first publicly announced the idea of erecting a blue plaque. That was at an earlier free event and this year’s free event at the Hebden Bridge Picture House completed the journey to some extent. Thanks to the cinema for all their support too.

The film shown was by Imprint and one of the people behind it, John Tueart, was also present. Imprint have made their film free to download too so please watch the following and share the link widely ( let’s get everybody talking about the Corinthians). Here’s the link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AWsGr3G_izE

Thanks again to all who attended, especially those who donated money for the local walking football team and those who bought the book (£5 from every book sold also went to the local team). Please keep spreading the word. Here are a few photos from the event:

Screenshot
Screenshot

Home in Barnsley

On this day (31 July) in 2008 Manchester City played a home game at Barnsley. This game made history as it was the first occasion the Blues had played a home European tie outside of Manchester.  Previously City had played home European games at Maine Road and at the City Of Manchester Stadium, but work at Eastlands following a concert by Bon Jovi prevented the Club from staging the game at home.  The decision was taken to stage the match at Barnsley.  Subscribers can read about both legs of the European tie here:

MANCHESTER CITY IN EUROPE – 2008-09 v EB Streymur (at home in Barnsley!)

England’s First… Gladys Aikin’s Role

It’s wonderful that England have won, once again, the Women’s Euros. It’s so important for moments like this to be celebrated and recognised for the significant achievement they are. During recent weeks much has been said about the first England women’s international against Scotland back in 1972. That’s great – the history of women’s football in this country goes back a long way – however I am a little disappointed that the role of one significant figure in the development of international football has not really been mentioned. That’s he role of Gladys Aikin, the first chair of the England Women International Committee.

Gladys was the manager of the Manchester Corinthians and she was one of the founding people behind the establishment of the Women’s FA. She was also someone who challenged the FA a ban and in the early 70s she worked with others to establish an England international team. She became the first chair (though she always described herself as Chairman using the convention of the time) of the England Women International Committee and was ultimately responsible for that first England squad (see letter).

I’ll be mentioning Gladys during the Free Corinthians event I’m staging at Hebden Bridge on Saturday 2 August (4pm-6pm) so why not come along and hear more on her and the Corinthians? Follow the link for tickets and details:

https://hebdenbridgepicturehouse.savoysystems.co.uk/HebdenBridgePictureHouse.dll/TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_4156.TcsWebTab_4157.TcsPerformance_3975550.TcsSection_1367

Bert Whalley Plaque Reveal

On 27 July in 2021 I attended the unveiling of a blue plaque commemorating the life and career of Bert Whalley at Stalybridge Celtic. Whalley is one of Manchester & Tameside’s unsung footballing heroes. Bert passed away in Munich, a victim of the air crash in 1958. The unveiling was performed by former United captain Bryan Robson and Bert’s granddaughter Lindsay Vare.

Several former United players were there, including Tony Whelan who had given a one hour talk to United’s under 23s about Bert. It’s great to see clubs educating their current/future stars about the names from their past.

Special recognition to Mark Metcalf for his efforts ensuring the plaque happened. Mark’s been responsible for organising several blue plaques over the last decade, including one for Joe Mercer in Ellesmere Port.

For those interested Bert Whalley’s plaque is situated at Stalybridge’s Bower Fold ground and can be viewed on the exterior of the main stand.

To read about Bert’s life see:

Guest Blog – Mark Metcalf Writing About Bert Whalley

50 Years Ago Today: Paul Power

Paul Power signed as a full time professional for Manchester City on this day (17 July) in 1975. He had previously been a youth player, signing as a part time professional in December 1974 (while studying a law degree). You can find several articles that mention Paul throughout this website. Start looking here:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/tag/paul-power/

Maine Road Now and Then

It’s worth comparing this image from recent years, showing the housing and school now built on Maine Road, with this 1940s image of the Maine Road site. The boundary lines are visible, demonstrating how the site changed usage.

This 1971 aerial image shows the stadium from another angle, looking west.

Maine Road aerial 1971 from Farewell To Maine Road

If you’d like to read more on the history of Maine Road, take a look at Farewell To Maine Road, which can be downloaded from this page:

Farewell To Maine Road – Part One
How To Subscribe

Fancy Advertising at City or Newton Heath?

Here’s an advert from the official Manchester City and Newton Heath match programme, published in September 1899. It demonstrates a period when football clubs looked to raise money however they could. Here ‘business men’ could advertise on almost any part of City’s Hyde Road ground or United’s Bank Street ground. I always find it funny when people try to claim that football has only become a ‘business’ in recent decades… Ever since the game became professional it has been a business and those owning clubs have looked at ways to increase income or profitability.

More on the 1899-1900 season elsewhere on the site. Why not search for features?

The Reporting of a Manchester Derby

Here’s an interesting cutting from the Official Programme of both Manchester City and Newton Heath in December 1898. Back then City’s and Newton Heath’s match programme was a joint affair, shared with a couple of rugby clubs too. Reading this gives an impression of how the rivalry was at the time – I’m sure City fans will find the line about referee Jack Lewis’s decision making interesting!

This game was actually played at City’s Hyde Road on Boxing Day 1898 and, as was typical of the period, both sets of fans were vocal and spread around the ground.

The opening paragraph described an infamous passageway that led to the Hyde Road ground and was often muddy. Also, worth noting that Billy Meredith was the biggest name in football and was a popular City player at this time.

City won the game 4-0:

Climbing the Golden Stairs

Free Talk & Film Show

On Saturday August 2 between 4pm and 5.30pm I’ll be hosting a special free event at the Hebden Bridge Picture House. I’ll be talking about the Manchester Corinthians; we’ll show a short film about them and then we’ll welcome some of these pioneering women footballers on to the stage to discuss their experiences in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s (when they toured the world playing football in some extraordinary places while also playing a major part in structuring women’s football pre and post the FA ban). There’ll also be the opportunity for an audience Q&A.

I’ll be raising funds for the Hebden Bridge Women’s Walking Football team too via sales of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History (the book will be available at the discounted price of £20 and £5 from every sale on the day will be given to the walking football team).

The event is free but tickets must be reserved. You can order yours here:

https://hebdenbridgepicturehouse.savoysystems.co.uk/HebdenBridgePictureHouse.dll/TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_4156.TcsWebTab_4157.TcsPerformance_3975550.TcsSection_1367

The evening promises to be a great event and follows one held in Hebden Bridge in 2021. Back then we announced the idea of erecting a blue plaque for the Corinthians which received great support from the audience that night. In the four years since we’ve not only managed to get a Blue Plaque and other tributes to them but we’ve also produced the book; staged a reunion and had numerous TV and radio appearances as we’ve tried to highlight the incredible story of these remarkable women.

Book your place at our event on 2 August and hear from the women themselves about their experiences.

The short film we’ll be showing was put together with interviews at the reunion event and was made by Imprint Films. It’s an emotionally wonderful tribute to these amazing footballers.

Margaret Whitworth with the Manchester Corinthians blue plaque