The remarkable legacy of the most pioneering team in the history of women's football is set to be formally recognized at the Women's Football Awards. The Manchester Corinthians Ladies FC, founded in 1949, paved 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 recognized at a national industry awards ceremony.
The Women's Football Awards will formally recognize 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 honors the legacy of Manchester Corinthians Ladies FC but also celebrates their lasting impact on the development of the women's game.
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.'
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 honor 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 recognize excellence at every level – from grassroots trailblazers to the biggest names on the global stage – the awards shine a spotlight on the players, organizations, 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 honor 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
