Ask Granny if she played. Manchester Corinthians

[Gary James]

Experience has shown they don’t talk about it but quite a few of our grannies played football. Can everyone ask their older female family members and if they did then ask if they played for Manchester Corinthians, a pioneering team from 1940s to 1980s. We’re unveiling a plaque and other tributes to them.

Full story here:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/2023/09/07/manchester-corinthians-plaque-unveiling/

I‘m keen to track down more Corinthians.

 

[Big Joe Corrigan]

You are rug-head Rooney and I claim my £5.

 

[manclad]

Not about Manchester Corinthians,however my wife used to tell me about a girl who used to play football with all the lads at their school- Parrs Wood, in the early 70s.
The girls name was Gail Rothwell and as well as being a talented footballer,she was also a keen City fan and had a few brothers who were also City fans.
I checked her name on the Internet a few years ago and it turns out that Gail Redston (nee Rothwell) played for City Ladies back in the 1980s and was well regarded by the club. And she carried on working for City Ladies in various backroom roles untill a few years ago.

 

[Gary James]

Not about Manchester Corinthians,however my wife used to tell me about a girl who used to play football with all the lads at their school- Parrs Wood, in the early 70s.
The girls name was Gail Rothwell and as well as being a talented footballer,she was also a keen City fan and had a few brothers who were also City fans.
I checked her name on the Internet a few years ago and it turns out that Gail Redston (nee Rothwell) played for City Ladies back in the 1980s and was well regarded by the club. And she carried on working for City Ladies in various backroom roles untill a few years ago.

I know Gail. She played with my wife at City and they both still play together now, with quite a few other former City players at Walking Football. I interviewed her and included her story in my book on Manchester City Women. She’s on this photo from the 30th anniversary:

Establishing women in sports history: Manchester City Football Club

ABSTRACT This paper provides an overview of an oral history project focusing on the experiences of female footballers, in particular those playing for Manchester City Women since its formation as a community initiative in 1988, through to its modern-day position as a leading Women’s Super League...

gjfootballarchive.com

 

[manclad]

I know Gail. She played with my wife at City and they both still play together now, with quite a few other former City players at Walking Football. I interviewed her and included her story in my book on Manchester City Women. She’s on this photo from the 30th anniversary:

Establishing women in sports history: Manchester City Football Club

ABSTRACT This paper provides an overview of an oral history project focusing on the experiences of female footballers, in particular those playing for Manchester City Women since its formation as a community initiative in 1988, through to its modern-day position as a leading Women’s Super League...

gjfootballarchive.com

I've just asked the wife to see if she recognized Gail in that photo,and she isn't sure but she thinks that Gail is one of the older short haired ladies on the front row.
But it's 49 years ago since they left Parrs Wood so she maybe mistaken.

 

[Gary James]

I've just asked the wife to see if she recognized Gail in that photo,and she isn't sure but she thinks that Gail is one of the older short haired ladies on the front row.
But it's 49 years ago since they left Parrs Wood so she maybe mistaken.

Yes - front row. 6th from left; 7th from right.

 

[Gary James]

Thanks to all those Blues who turned up at the plaque unveiling. City did a story on their website too. Lots of City connections and we managed to get ITV national news there too. I’ll be posting images on my website later this week. Thanks again. It was a great day.

 

[Blue Floyd]

Experience has shown they don’t talk about it but quite a few of our grannies played football. Can everyone ask their older female family members and if they did then ask if they played for Manchester Corinthians, a pioneering team from 1940s to 1980s. We’re unveiling a plaque and other tributes to them.

Full story here:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/2023/09/07/manchester-corinthians-plaque-unveiling/

I‘m keen to track down more Corinthians.

Gonna need a shovel.

 

[eyalluvitt]

You are rug-head Rooney and I claim my £5.

 

[Zabbasbeard]

I know Gail. She played with my wife at City and they both still play together now, with quite a few other former City players at Walking Football. I interviewed her and included her story in my book on Manchester City Women. She’s on this photo from the 30th anniversary:

Establishing women in sports history: Manchester City Football Club

ABSTRACT This paper provides an overview of an oral history project focusing on the experiences of female footballers, in particular those playing for Manchester City Women since its formation as a community initiative in 1988, through to its modern-day position as a leading Women’s Super League...

gjfootballarchive.com

So good to read they are both playing football. I do love Walking Football as much as Football itself and recommend it to anyone who wants to keep playing in latter years.

 

[Luckybluekeks]

Shame I missed this. I caught it on ITV local news. My Mum is now
87 yrs old and played for Corinthians around 1951. She was 15 yrs old and was on Cringle playing fields waiting for a lad she was seeing to finish playing his football match. She started kicking a ball about behind the goals to pass the time. A girl came up to her and asked if she fancied playing for a team ( Corinthians). She went along and met the manager Percy Ashley. She played on the pitch on Fogg Lane but can’t remember how she travelled there as she lived in Bradford not far from where the Etihad is now. She played for about a year until she met my Dad who didn’t approve so she gave up. Both Mum and Dad still carried on going to football to watch Man City home & away and brought us all up as Blues. My Mum was a Man City lottery agent for eight years in the late 70’s & 80’s. She was not allowed to go to the annual meeting with MCFC Directors because she was a woman! After a few years one of the Directors relented and allowed her to go- imagine that today. She is still a plucky lady getting on with life and still supporting City. My Dad played in a football team with John Bond while doing National Service together. He sadly died at 90yrs weeks before the CL triumph. Many thanks for this, I plan on taking Mum to see the plaque soon.

 

[Gary James]

Shame I missed this. I caught it on ITV local news. My Mum is now
87 yrs old and played for Corinthians around 1951. She was 15 yrs old and was on Cringle playing fields waiting for a lad she was seeing to finish playing his football match. She started kicking a ball about behind the goals to pass the time. A girl came up to her and asked if she fancied playing for a team ( Corinthians). She went along and met the manager Percy Ashley. She played on the pitch on Fogg Lane but can’t remember how she travelled there as she lived in Bradford not far from where the Etihad is now. She played for about a year until she met my Dad who didn’t approve so she gave up. Both Mum and Dad still carried on going to football to watch Man City home & away and brought us all up as Blues. My Mum was a Man City lottery agent for eight years in the late 70’s & 80’s. She was not allowed to go to the annual meeting with MCFC Directors because she was a woman! After a few years one of the Directors relented and allowed her to go- imagine that today. She is still a plucky lady getting on with life and still supporting City. My Dad played in a football team with John Bond while doing National Service together. He sadly died at 90yrs weeks before the CL triumph. Many thanks for this, I plan on taking Mum to see the plaque soon.

Great to hear that she’s still around. I’m also writing the book on the Corinthians and would love to interview her. Please get in touch, either via DMs or email gary@gjfootballarchive.com I’m determined the book will tell the story of the club through the voices of those who played. Lots on the Corinthians on my website too.
I look forward to hearing from you.

 

[Luckybluekeks]

Great to hear that she’s still around. I’m also writing the book on the Corinthians and would love to interview her. Please get in touch, either via DMs or email gary@gjfootballarchive.com I’m determined the book will tell the story of the club through the voices of those who played. Lots on the Corinthians on my website too.
I look forward to hearing from you.

I will have a chat with her and get back to you Gary, thanks

 

[Gary James]

For those who have been interested in the Manchester Corinthians research I’ve been doing over the last decade…. The book has now been published. I’ve self funded it and it’s a non profit making book so if anybody is interested then please get it ordered direct from me.

You can do that here: https://gjfootballarchive.com/order-manchester-corinthians-book/

If you’re thinking ‘so what?’ about the Corinthians have a listen/watch of these moments from the reunion I organised earlier this month. I explain why the Corinthians matter and then other clips show some of the Corinthians today. We’ll worth spending a few minutes watching:

A Wonderful Celebration

On Monday (2 December 2024) we had a wonderful celebration for the Manchester Corinthians – the incredible women’s team that toured the globe promoting football, Manchester and female e…

gjfootballarchive.com

If there’s anybody out there who can help promote the story or who has a bookshop then please get in touch. Thanks again.