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.
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.
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.
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
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Rochdale to become colourful canvas as internationally-acclaimed artists bring mural festival to town
Thomas Melia
A well-renowned mural festival is making its way to Rochdale and bringing a whole host of international artists along with it this autumn.
The Common Walls International Mural Festival is making its mark on Rochdale, leaving a splash of colour throughout the Greater Manchester town courtesy of all-new striking street art.
Set to run from 7 through to 14 September, a collection of artists are descending onto the streets of Rochdale to give walls around the town centre a lick of paint that will not only brighten us the space, but also leave a lasting legacy.
10 of Rochdale’s notable town centre buildings will undergo a drastic change as part of this art-focused event.
Each art piece will pay homage to moments in Rochdale’s captivating history.
Rochdale-raised artist AYLO and Manchester-based Le Mai are two of the creatives getting involved, alongside Smug / Credit: Supplied
The artists involved in this creative, colourful, and cross-continental campaign include Greek artist Insane51, Swiss-born Onur, Manc-based Lei Mai, and so many more.
This new initiative is fronted by local artist Hayley Garner, known by her artist pseudonym AYLO, who was raised in Rochdale.
The festival’s main celebrations are taking place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September, when you’ll be able to walk through the town and admire all the pieces of art dotted around.
There will also be BMX stunt shows, a live grafitti jam, pop-up galleries, artist talks, and live music, as well as street art workshops so you can unleash your inner Bansky.
Insane51 and Smug join AYLO as just some of the other artists involved / Credit: Supplied
“I’ve painted murals all over the world, but nothing compares to painting in your hometown alongside artists I have looked up to and admired, especially during Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture,” commented lead artist and curator of Common Walls, Hayley Garner aka AYLO.
“I’m excited to see every day spaces transformed into landmarks of creativity and connection.
“What makes this even more special is welcoming world-class artists I’ve met on my journey, many of whom will be painting in Greater Manchester for the first time. They are amongst the best in the world and to bring them to my hometown is a real honour.”
Common Walls International Mural Festival is coming to Rochdale from Sunday 7 September to Sunday 14 September, and you can find out more information and further Greater Manchester Town of Culture listings online HERE.
Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)
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Manchester’s newest bowling venue Wynwood Lanes is giving away 100 FREE sessions on opening week
Emily Sergeant
An exciting new bowling venue is opening in Manchester this week, and they’re giving away 100 free bowling sessions to celebrate.
Manchester get ready, as Wynwood Lanes is taking over the legendary Dog Bowl site and giving it a full Miami makeover.
Think five upgraded bowling lanes, pool tables, basketball hoops, sun drenched tunes, poolside cocktails, smoke machines, and a brunch menu from Kong’s NQ that’ll have you salivating before you’ve even sat down.
Wynwood Lanes will be running on a ‘unique’ day-mode and night-mode model.
This means that by day, guests can expect fresh brunch dishes and low-fi tunes, with children welcome until 7pm, and then when it’s in night mode, the Miami heat is turned up with party beats, celebratory smoke machines, late night snacks, and bar games.
Manchester’s newest bowling venue Wynwood Lanes is giving away 100 free sessions on its opening week / Credit: PICRYL | Supplied
As mentioned, fuel for the fun comes from Manchester legends Kong’s NQ, but this time with a Miami twist, so expect Cuban sandwiches, lime chicken avo arepas, tacos galore, and Miami-style brunch plates.
A boozy bottomless brunch will also take every Saturday and Sunday from next Saturday 30 August, with 90 minutes of Miami plates and free-flowing cocktails from £39.50 per person – with the option to upgrade to bowling for just a tenner
With the grand opening date just days away now, Wynwood Lanes wants to start things off with a bang… or you know, a strike.
In a bid to do this, they’ll be giving away free bowling sessions to the first 100 people through the doors on bank holiday Monday (25 August) from midday through to 11pm – with up to six players allowed per group.
Wynwood Lanes is open from 4pm tomorrow (Friday 22 August).
Bowling prices will start at £9 (or totally free if you’re one of the first 100 to book for opening weekend), so follow this link to grab access to bowling booking slots when they’re released, and secure your lane before they’re gone.
Emily Sergeant -
17th January 2022 
