A new exhibition shining a light on the history of women’s football is opening in Manchester
Manchester City Council is teaming up with the National Football Museum to uncover more of the hidden history of the game first played professionally 141 years ago.
A brand-new exhibition that’s shining a light on and charting the history of women’s football is coming to Manchester city centre.
To help kick off a summer-long celebration of the beautiful game as Manchester prepares to play its part as one of nine host cities for UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 tournament matches, Manchester City Council is teaming up with the National Football Museum to uncover more of the hidden history of women’s football in what will take a closer look at the game – which was first played professionally 141 years ago – and its players, and communities.
As well as recording more of the stories of the pioneering women and girls involved, and tracing the roots of the women’s game from its early nineteenth century beginnings, through to the 21st century, a unique “contemporary collecting” project is also planned.
The ‘Football Heritage Collection’ project will see volunteers go out into local communities to speak with people and collect their memories and stories about the game and the women involved, along with any artefacts relating to the game or the women who played it.
The project will work directly with community and grassroots partners, and will be accompanied by interactive sessions and resource packs about the history and importance of the women’s game, as well as family activities in the fan-zones.
ADVERTISEMENT
A selection of the objects, oral histories, and stories that are collected will be showcased on the National Football Museum website.
Manchester City Council is teaming up with the National Football Museum to uncover more of the hidden history of women’s football / Credit: Flickr (David Lisburn)
Manchester City Council and the National Football Museum hope this project will help reveal even more insights into the long tradition of women’s football in Manchester – which dates from humble origins, through to the great Manchester Corinthians’ ground-breaking international tours in the 1950s, and right up to the present-day era, led by Manchester City Women and a growing number of female clubs, teams, and coaches.
ADVERTISEMENT
The National Football Museum says it has been improving its representation of women’s football across its collections and exhibitions over the past few years, and this brand-new large-scale exhibition will add to that.
Aiming to celebrate and document the history of the women’s game, the exhibition will go on display at the museum from June – December, as the city prepares to welcome the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 tournament.
It will be supported by an exciting range of activities and events to celebrate and capture the tournament.
ADVERTISEMENT
The exhibition will take a closer look at the game, its players, and the communities / Credit: National Football Museum
Speaking ahead of the exhibition’s opening next month, Belinda Scarlett – Women’s Football Curator at the National Football Museum – said: “From the Manchester Corinthians’ ground-breaking international tours in the 1950s, to being home to two WSL teams and grassroots teams like Manchester Laces, Manchester has played an important role in the history and development of the women’s game.
“The National Football Museum has been improving its representation of women’s football across its collections and exhibitions over the past few years, culminating in our exhibition to celebrate the UEFA Women’s Euros 2022.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with our UEFA Women’s EURO Host City partners and The National Lottery Heritage Fund on this unique programme,” said Baroness Sue Campbell – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Board Member and Director of Women’s Football.
“Together we will bring to the fore incredible stories of the pioneers of women’s football who have helped shape the women’s game we have today.
“The programme will also capture and tell, for generations to come, the profiles and stories of current and future England players, ensuring fans are better informed than ever before [and] with the UEFA Women’s EURO coming to England this summer, this really is the time to celebrate our past and look forward to a very exciting future.”
Featured Image – National Football Museum
What's On
A first look into the highly-anticipated TV soap crossover ‘Corriedale’ has just dropped
Thomas Melia
The wait is nearly over for TV soap fans, as producers behind the highly-anticipated ‘Corriedale’ crossover have just dropped an exclusive first look.
Whether you’re team Coronation Streetor team Emmerdale, this show has all areas covered as it merges both the iconic TV soaps into an hour-long special.
Now, it feels like Christmas has come early as pictures of two very distinctive cast members smiling next to each other while filming the crossover episode have been released.
In the newly-released images we can see Vicky Myers, known for playing the assertive and dedicated DS Lisa Swain, representing the Manchester-based production Coronation Street.
Vicky Myers (DS Lisa Swain) and Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle) pictured together ahead of upcoming TV soap crossover Corriedale / Credit: ITV Press Centre (Supplied)
Stood by her side is Danny Miller known for his role as the complex and vulnerable Aaron Dingle in Leeds-based hit soap Emmerdale.
Both can be seen on-set and are pictured in front of a white trailer filming for the upcoming Corriedale special.
Although the shows are set just a one hour’s drive away from each other, separated by The Pennines, this soap special marks the first time that characters from each drama will have ever crossed paths.
Most details for this soap crossover are being kept very tight-lipped although filming kicked off in September with this latest update marking the first-ever major cast announcement for Corriedale.
ITV Executive Producer for Continuing Drama Iain Macleod said: “It’s beyond exciting that filming is under way on Corriedale.
“There is a massive buzz around both the Leeds and Manchester sites and the images coming out of the shoot are utterly spectacular. And that’s before we’ve even got to all the brilliant transpennine interactions between characters from the different shows!
“As a soap fan myself, I think my head is going to explode when the episode airs next year. It will be mind-blowing, historical and unmissable.”
Corriedale is coming to our TV screens in early 2026 and heralds the start of a new soap power hour with 30 minute episodes of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale to air every weekday.
The Karate Kid – The Musical, inspired by the iconic 80s film, is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Iconic 80s film The Karate Kid has now been reimagined as a stage musical – and it’s coming to Manchester next spring.
The Karate Kid – The Musical will be heading out on its UK premiere tour in 2026, including a run of dates at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The musical follows the same themes as the original, legendary 1984 film, a coming-of-age story that follows the relationship and teachings between Daniel LaRusso and Mr Miyagi.
It’s not just about karate, it’s about resilience, mentorship, and the quiet strength that bridges generations, and on the stage you can expect movement, music, and energetic storytelling too.
The original blockbuster starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita and has gone down in history as one of cinema’s greatest films, earning Morita an Academy Award nomination.
It’s become a major global franchise, including three movie sequels, a remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and a Netflix series (Cobra Kai).
The Karate Kid – The Musical made its world premiere in 2022, selling out theatres and earning rave reviews.
Those iconic cinematic moments are brought to life on the stage by a Tony Award-winning design team.
The Karate Kid – The Musical is heading on a major UK tour before it hits the West End and Broadway.
It’s written by Robert Mark Kamen, screenwriter of the original 1984 movie, with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini.
Kamen says: “William Goldman said about Hollywood “No one knows anything.” He was right.
“Who knew that 43 years after I wrote the original script for THE KARATE KID, we would see these very same characters acting and singing on the British stage in a story that is as fresh and universally relevant as it was four decades ago.”
The Karate Kid – The Musical is at the Palace Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 23 May 2026, with tickets on sale now HERE.