On this day (11 May) in 1960 the Manchester Corinthians women’s team landed in New York at the start of their three month tour of South America (they started in New York and then flew south). As part of the decade+ long project into the club I’ve managed to identify all 29 women who participated for the tour (see below). The stories of many of these appear in Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History and I’ve been privileged to into so many Corinthians from this era. Only yesterday I was with one of them (she’s almost 92) as we chatted again about her life.
The players who went to South America are (with the ones I interviewed for the first edition of the book in bold). If you went on the tour or a member of your family did then please let me know. I’m still keen to capture more stories and don’t want to miss anybody out:
| Alice Sharples |
| Andrea Allen |
| Anne Grimes |
| Anne Keane |
| Barbara Bottoms |
| Brenda Ward |
| Doris Ashley |
| Freda Ashton |
| Gillian Holland |
| Jean Turner |
| Josephine Hilldrup |
| Josephine Hankinson |
| Lesley Howard |
| Margaret ‘Bunty’ Hilton |
| Margaret Whitworth |
| Margaret Griffiths |
| Margaret Turner |
| Margaret Wilde |
| Marion Matley |
| Marlene Goddard |
| Mary Bee |
| Mavis Cooke |
| Molly Edwards |
| Norma Dobson |
| Pauline Fairweather |
| Pauline Hulme |
| Sheila Isherwood |
| Sheila Smith |
| Susan Whittaker |
| Teresa Comer |
The trip was wonderful for the Corinthians with lots of new experiences. A chapter in the book covers the stories of many of the women who attended. I’m currently revising/updating it and the second edition of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History will be published this year.
As with the first edition this book will be non-profit. Also, anyone ordering a copy now will get their name published in the book as a supporter of the project. Copies can be ordered now (see below). This promises to build further on the original book, viewed as a landmark publication. Income from the book will continue to be used to promote these remarkable women; stage events for them and capture their stories for posterity. Over fifty Corinthians were interviewed for the first edition and others have been found and interviewed for this updated version. This includes additional Corinthians from the 1940s, adding to the three founding Corinthians interviewed for the first edition. Their voices are so important to the story of this remarkable club.
I’m determined to ensure all Corinthians are remembered so please also get in touch if you’re a Corinthian who may have slipped through the net somehow.
Order before 1 July 2026 and you will get your name published within a special roll of honour within the book and it will be sent out to all subscribers on publication at the start of October 2026. This will be before it appears in any shop. Sadly, due to postage costs the book can only be posted to UK addresses. You do not need to have a PayPal account to order – use the ‘Pay with PayPal’ button below and it will give you the option to pay by credit/debit card without creating a PayPal account.
UK ONLY – one copy of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History 2nd edition (paperback)
The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This is for one paperback book at £19.95 ()incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.
£19.95
Opportunities to buy multiple copies, sponsor the book or donate exist too. Please email Gary@GJFootballArchive.com for more information on those opportunities. For those wishing to order ten copies then a special panel will be included within the book thanking you for supporting the Corinthians’ project & book, plus you’ll get ten copies for the discounted total of £150 (including UK deliver).
UK ONLY – Ten copies of Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History 2nd edition (paperback)
The story of a pioneering women’s club as told to Gary James by those who were there. This is for ten paperback books at £150 (incl UK postage and packaging). Outside UK contact for additional postage costs.
£150.00
Note: the cover is currently being redesigned and is likely to be different to the ones shown here.
For more on the Corinthians see:
Gary James' Football Archive 