Category Archives: Manchester Corinthians

Women’s Football Grows

Women’s football grew at a phenomenal rate in the 1940s and early 1950s in Manchester and on this day (22 March) in 1949 it was reported that the Manchester Corinthians had gained 18 new players in a month. In addition it was claimed that: ‘one of the biggest crowds seen around there for a long time’ had gathered at Fog Lane Park, Didsbury to watch a game between two full women’s teams. It was anticipated that the final Sunday in March would see the Corinthians have three complete teams ready for action at 2pm. The sport was growing and you can now find out the facts (not the fiction!) about this incredible team in my new book. Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History is a must for anyone interested in Manchester or women’s football and consists of 356 pages.

It is illustrated throughout and you can order it now for £25 (including UK postage and packaging). I’ll sign all copies ordered direct from me below.

If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of additional postage costs.

You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account.

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in late December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

21st Anniversary of the Manchester Corinthians

On this day (20 March) in 1970 the 21st anniversary celebration of the Manchester Corinthians was held at the Southern Hotel, Mauldeth Road. Gladys Aikin organised the event and she had originally hoped to find a room for the celebration on the date (5 January) founding manager Percy Ashley used most as the formation date. Percy actually frequently got the date wrong (don’t believe any 1949 date you may read elsewhere!). My research for Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History suggests the club had been training earlier than January 1949. Regardless
of the actual date, celebrating 21 years of this pioneering women’s team was important. 1970 (for reasons I go into detail about in the book) saw the club and women’s football come of age in a way that Percy and the others involved at the start had always hoped.

I was delighted when, in December last year, I was able to get around 90 people (the majority former players) together for a 75th anniversary reunion at the Etihad Stadium.

You can now find out the facts (not the fiction!) about this incredible team in my new book. Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History is a must for anyone interested in Manchester or women’s football and consists of 356 pages.

It is illustrated throughout and you can order it now for £25 (including UK postage and packaging). I’ll sign all copies ordered direct from me below.

If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of additional postage costs.

You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account.

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in late December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

BBC Radio Manchester Tonight

I’ll be on BBC Radio Manchester tonight at 630pm talking about the pioneering Manchester Corinthians. I’m sure you’ve all heard me explain about the Corinthians book I’ve written. It is illustrated throughout and you can order it now for £25 (including UK postage and packaging). I’ll sign all copies ordered direct from me below.

If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of additional postage costs.

You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account.

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in late December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

Manchester Corinthians Talks and Events

Thanks to all those who came to the Manchester Corinthians event last Wednesday (5 March) at Manchester Central Library. It was great to hear so many interested in the story and I’m sure the addition of Corinthians in the audience added to the event. They truly are remarkable women and there are so many angles to this wonderful football team that toured the globe between 1948 and 1992. There’s another talk tonight in Irlam and others arranged for the coming weeks too. On Wednesday, I promised to post some links in the aftermath of the event for those who want to find out more…

Firstly, Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History. This book is a must for anyone interested in Manchester or women’s football and consists of 356 pages. It is illustrated throughout and you can order it now for £25 (including UK postage and packaging).

If you live outside the UK then please contact for details of additional postage costs.

You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button above and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account.

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This will be published in late December 2024. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

Next, here’s the wonderful 18 minute film put together by Imprint Films on the Corinthians. It includes brief interviews with a small group of the women I interviewed, plus I help to explain why they are so significant.

https://www.imprintfilms.co.uk/oh-what-a-team

IYou can also find out more about the book here:

Manchester Corinthians

Happy International Women’s Day #IWD2025

Another wonderful video and feature from @mancity on the Manchester Corinthians from our visit the other week. A few of the Corinthians were guests of the club and this video on them is well worth watching:

https://www.mancity.com/features/manchester-corinthians/

Happy World Book Day: Manchester Corinthians Book

As it’s World Book Day I’m going to mention Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History. We had a good event last night at Manchester Library and we’ve heard some wonderful stuff on the book. Thanks for all these positive responses which, inevitably, are down to the women who played – they are truly remarkable. A few reviews and features on the Manchester Corinthians book have appeared, alongside a whole series of articles (Watch this space for news of articles at Manchester City and in United We Stand). The Tameside Reporter had this piece a while ago (see page 39):

https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/tameside-reporter/

Also, thanks to Tom Urwin who has posted a review on the Amazon page here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Manchester-Corinthians-Authorised-History-James/dp/1916885217/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=AP0CBG832SBI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yEYl6LQvVu2iEy2RG1m2NA.repTMUuXskmEuKB2EJEzDMxzfhyjkpdeESrz-kyB0o0&dib_tag=se&keywords=manchester+corinthians+the+authorised+history&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1735638025&sprefix=manchester+corint%2Caps%2C264&sr=8-1

The book is similar in style to Manchester City Women: An Oral History, published five years ago. However, this book is hardback.

The purchase price is £25. All orders made directly via this website will be signed by author Gary James.

Those with a delivery address in the UK can order here (outside UK please contact for additional postage costs):

UK ONLY – Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History

The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This is UK only at £25 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.

£25.00

You can find out more on the book here:

Manchester Corinthians

Tomorrow’s Football History Talk at Manchester Central library

A reminder that tomorrow’s free talk at Manchester Central Library starts at 5.30pm and tickets can be booked here: https://librarylive.co.uk/event/celebrating-the-manchester-corinthians/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIbRTdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRQfPeIdE9_j9BUHAvvOU_Wot0QkejJpWxzzyHdZXBkfvoSJcKsE4ocSvQ_aem_OQ52G2GB6w2hytp4uiGAJw Note Also that I’ll have copies of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History available on the night for the discounted price of £20 (RRP £25). So why not come along to this free talk and then grab a bargain too? It’ll be great to see so many interested in the history of women’s football in Manchester.

The talk is on the pioneering Manchester Corinthians. The library blurb for the talk:

Celebrating the Manchester Corinthians

The pioneering Manchester Corinthians women’s football team was established during 1948-49. They toured the globe promoting the sport, Manchester and female endeavour at a time when women’s football was banned by the Football Association.

Experiencing tours to Portugal, Germany, South America, North Africa, Italy, France and Spain during the 1950s to 1970s, the Corinthians also played a significant role in overturning the FA ban, establishing the Women’s FA and creating regular competition domestically and internationally.

Gary James will be discussing their history, talking of the challenges they faced and the club’s achievements during a 40+ year existence. In 2019 Gary established a campaign to erect permanent tributes to the players and his authorised history of the club was published in January 2025. He has been attending and researching women’s football since the 1980s.

Gary has captured the stories of women who played for the Corinthians throughout its history, including three women in their 90s who were there at the start in 1948-49. A couple of the Corinthians are anticipated to be present at the talk.

Copies of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History will be available on the day at a discounted price of £20 (RRP £25)

Manchester Corinthians Talk at Central Library for International Women’s Day

Next Wednesday (5 March) I’ll be doing a talk at Manchester Central Library as part of the events leading up to International Women’s Day. The talk is on the Manchester Corinthians women’s football team that toured the globe between 1948 and 1992 and is based on a decade of research into the team. It’s free to attend but tickets should be booked in advance here:

Celebrating the Manchester Corinthians

The talk takes place between 5.30pm and 7pm at Manchester Central Library and will focus on the history of the club, based on the 50+ interviews I have performed with former players, coaches and their families. I’ll also have copies of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History available at the discounted price of £20 (normally £25) for those who wish to buy the book that evening.

Why not come along and learn all about these remarkable women. In advance why not watch this 18 minute documentary put together by Imprint Films on the Corinthians? It includes brief interviews with a small group of the women I interviewed, plus I help to explain why they are so significant. The free Library talk will of course go into much more detail (as does the book):

If you can’t make it to the talk then watch out for others. You can also find out about the book here:

Manchester Corinthians

Thursday at Morley CC

On Thursday (27 February) evening I’ll be talking at the West Yorkshire branch of the Manchester City Supporters Club (8pm; Morley Cricket Club, Scatcherd Lane Morley, Leeds LS27 0JJ) about the Manchester Corinthians women’s team and, of course, I’ll also discuss Manchester City’s history too. I’ll have copies of the Manchester Corinthians book with me, as well as copies of my Peter Barnes biography if anybody wants one.

You can find out more on the Corinthians book here:

Manchester Corinthians

You can find out more on the Barnes book here:

The Peter Barnes Authorised Biography – Available Here!

Manchester Central Library Event – 5 March 2025

I’m delighted to say that on Wednesday 5 March I’ll be doing a talk/event at Manchester Central Library. It’s free to attend but, the library would like to encourage attendees to book in advance. See the following for details:

Celebrating the Manchester Corinthians

Oh and if you need an added incentive… Copies of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History will be available on the day at a discounted price of £20 (RRP £25).

You can find out more on the Corinthians’ book here:

Manchester Corinthians

I’d also encourage people to watch this film to get a feel for the story too. It’s been put together by Imprint Films (Luke, John – Dennis Tueart’s son – and their team put together a wonderful 18 minute film, treating the Corinthians with respect throughout):

https://www.imprintfilms.co.uk/oh-what-a-team