The Corinthians: We Were The Champions

Story

A FILM THAT WILL MAKE FEMALE FOOTBALL HISTORY

There’s a myth that just because the Football Association banned women from playing football on affiliated pitches for 50 years that they never played at all. The Corinthians: We Were The Champions is the film that will smash that theory forever, putting women firmly back in football history thanks to one magnificent Manchester team.

So if you want the real history of women’s football recognised – this is for you!

Our world first documentary film reveals the incredible true story of the mighty Corinthians Ladies Football Club from Manchester. A team that not only defied the ban – but smashed it to pieces by going on a global winning spree decades before the officially recognised England women’s team was formed. By telling their story, entirely in their own words, these pioneering players tackle the lie that women couldn’t play until the 1970s.

In fact, The Corinthians were formed at the very height of the ban in 1949. For the first time on film, surviving players reveal their full story of courageous determination, gladiatorial glory, and success despite all the odds. The sporting establishment wanted them written out of history. This documentary film will make sure they get the glory they deserve.

We are already in production, filming with these amazing former football stars. But we need YOU to help make it all happen. Join our Corinthians film fan club now….

Who were The Corinthians?

If you’ve never heard of The Corinthians, that’s because the all-male football establishment of the time didn’t want you to. The FA of the 1950s wanted them banned from the pitch and side-lined from history. And so their story was forgotten for decades.

Yet, they were one of the most successful women’s teams ever – defying the system to become the first female club from the UK to tour internationally, unofficially representing England against Germany as far back as 1957. Winning 50 trophies over 20 years.

If you back The Corinthians: We Were The Champions you will be part of helping them become famous once more.

Our film is the first documentary to tell the full unvarnished story of these rebellious Mancunian women who not only defied the might of the male establishment – they became global pioneers for the women’s game.

They were rebels against the system – formed as a club in 1949, decades into the FA ruling. They had no official ground, no kit and only a duck pond to wash in, next to their mud-sodden pitch on Fog Lane Park. So how did they manage to become globetrotting stars, going on to play in unofficial European cups?

We will uncover the full David v Goliath story. Telling first hand, through our amazing team of Corinthians veterans, what it was like – the sacrifices, the hardships to play against all odds, and the ecstatic victories. The personal stories and battles that not only shine a light on sporting history but put women centre screen to tell their own stories, in their own words.

(Former Corinthians goalkeeper Anne Grimes being filmed for our documentary on location)

But the thing that really sets this team apart is their globetrotting adventures, as the first women’s team in the country to tour internationally. And our film will reveal the hilarious and heroic antics of these Manchester schoolgirls and office workers around the world in South America, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Holland and France.

The Corinthians: We Were The Champions proves not only that women did play football, they played to a world-class standard. Which is why we have received a letter of support for our film from the National Football Museum, who have said: “Manchester Corinthians are a very important team in the history of women’s football in England. Beyond their sporting achievements, their story is also important for its wider social story. Their achievements deserve a wider audience.”

This story needs telling. For the women in this film – who deserve their place in football history. For girls getting into the game today, who deserve to know about the heroic shoulders they can stand on. And finally for Manchester, a city that should celebrate being home to three legendary teams – United, City, and The Corinthians.

It will be a fun ride too – packed with hilarious stories, a specially commissioned animated Corinthians comic strip and a raucous punk soundtrack from up-and-coming Manchester band Loose Articles.

So, be the fan club The Corinthians never had. Back the film.

The film-making team

We are Films Not Words – a new documentary production company based in Manchester, UK. Just like The Corinthians we are proud Mancunians, which is why are so passionate about giving them the glory they deserve.

We’ve been working collectively in Manchester for over 20 years, on programmes for the BBC, Channel 4 and others. Our founder and director of this film, Helen Tither, won a BAFTA in 2012 for her work on the documentary My Life: Me, My Dad & His Kidney (CBBC). She also devised and directed Emmeline Pankhurst: The Making of a Militant (BBC1), the first film on the Suffragette leader’s early life.

(Our team on location with Corinthians and England Women’s player Jean Wilson. L-R: DOP Greg Cheetham, Producer Sarah Walters, Director Helen Tither)

We have had the privilege of getting to know these amazing players over the past year, who have so generously shared their stories with us. In fact, we are so determined their story should be told – that we set up the company to make the film happen. Our experienced crew have dedicated months to getting it off the ground, filming hours of amazing interviews. Now we need backers to complete the film.

We need YOU to kick this film off!

Just like people didn’t like The Corinthians playing football, so we have been told that there’s no need for a film about this groundbreaking chapter in women’s football. Well, we don’t agree!

With so many people still believing that women never played football at all during the 50 year FA ban, there is a massive need to tell this story. Not only to honour the memory of those women who did play – many of whom are sadly no longer with us. But to inspire young girls playing football today who are still being told it’s ‘not for girls’. At a time when the number of girls football teams has actually doubled to over 12,000 across England.

Which is why, inspired by the can-do Corinthians spirit, we are making this documentary ourselves as an independent film, working alongside former players who are having input at every step of the way.

(Former Corinthians player Myra Lypnyckyj filming her interview on location with our DOP Greg Cheetham behind the camera)

We are a fully professional crew, experienced in developing, producing and delivering broadcast quality content. We have the skills and the commitment to make this film. But making documentaries takes money as well as time and passion.

In this first round of crowdfunding, we need your help to raise £65,000.

Here’s how that money will help to make this the world-quality film the Corinthians deserve:

FILMING: We have already filmed over 20 hours of interview footage with the amazing former players who tell can tell The Corinthians’ story from the 1950s to the 1970s. But we have more to do to really do this story justice. Our crew film in 4K with our super talented Director of Photography, Greg Cheetham, who captured the shots you can see in our trailer. Your donation will help us finish our filming to complete the documentary.
EDITING: We are working with our super sharp editor, Craig Leedham of Film Goodness, to pull together this complex story covering several decades and dozens of players, to really bring this tale to life as a gripping watch. Your money will help us carry out the 10 week edit needed for a professional documentary film.

(A snapshot of the amazing animation we have commissioned for the film)

ANIMATION: There is precious little archive film of The Corinthians in action – not surprising seeing as they were ‘officially’ banned. So we have created an amazing animated Corinthians comic book which comes to life to bring some of their exploits and key matches to life. We are working with RTS-winning illustrator Gemma Roberts, of Amber Dust Studios, who has worked on films including We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and Ethel & Ernest, to create the comic, based on the original players themselves. Award-winning animator John Whittington, of Head In The Clouds, is cleverly bringing them to life. Your money will help pay for these comic strips to run throughout the film and really conjure up the true spirit of those rebellious teenage players.
ARCHIVE RESEARCH: We are lucky that the surviving players in our film are generously sharing their personal Corinthians archive – but there is much still to find out there and your money will help us include precious real-life photos or moving footage in the film to really validate the women’s stories.

MUSIC: We are working with up-and-coming Manchester band Loose Articles (pictured) who will be supporting the Foo Fighters this summer, on the raucous soundtrack to the film. Their awesome track, Kick Like A Girl is used in our trailer. Your money will help us collaborate with these talented music-makers and football fans.
CREW & COSTS: Your money will be seen on screen – which means it will be used to make this film the best it can be. Of course, there are dozens of off-screen costs too, like legal fees, filming insurance, and the rest! And while we love filming, it can’t happen without all the technical stuff!

The main thing to remember is – this film is getting made! So whatever you can donate will go towards making it the biggest and best documentary it can be. If we don’t reach our target – and with your help we will! – all funds raised will still go directly to the the film itself.

Be The Corinthians fan club!

We believe we can really do this if lots of people can give a little. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham called The Corinthians the ‘Football Suffragettes’ – and, just like the Suffragettes, we need a movement of women, football fans and proud Mancunians to get behind this team.

If you believe that women’s football history should be told, if you are passionate about football, play for a girls or women’s team today, or just believe that Manchester should do more to honour its female football legends alongside United and City – then back our film.

(L-R: Former Corinthians players Margaret ‘Whit’ Whitworth, Jan Lyons and Margaret ‘Tiny’ Shepherd’ on location after filming their interviews for our film)

We have the track record to really make this film have impact. Our director, Helen, devised, wrote, produced and directed BBC documentary Emmeline Pankhurst: The Making of a Militant (BBC1), working with our Director of Photography Greg, Producer Sarah, and Editor Craig. Not only was it a key part of the BBC’s coverage of the Suffragette anniversary but it was also played at the unveiling of Manchester’s Emmeline statue, sent to schools all over Manchester to inspire young girls, and inspired a gender equality panel to be set up in the city.

We want this documentary to have a similar impact on the girls’ game today. We plan to make it available to inspire women, and are working with the National Football Museum to see how the story can be preserved for posterity. We need a movement of fans to make this happen. So join the fan club The Corinthians never had!

Perks!

We want to focus as much time and money into making the film as possible – so we are keeping perks simple to spend money on the story! We hope that lots of people can give a little to help make it happen.

Be a Corinthians film fan: We want everybody who gives at least £10 to this film to feel part of it. So everyone who donates £10 or more to our campaign will receive a specially-designed, numbered, certificate to commemorate their support of the film as a Corinthians film fan. Sent via email as downloads.
Thank you credits on our website: Everyone who donates £25 or more will be listed as a crowdfunder on our website at www.filmsnotwords.co.uk
Thank you on the film credits: Super generous donations of £1,000 of more will be listed in the crowdfunder credits at the end of the film.

We can do it!

Getting this film off the ground at all has been a massive challenge – we have set up a company, done all the research and development in our own time, despite being told people don’t want to watch films about women’s football! And we are committed to carrying on with this film until it is screened.

There are challenges to telling a historical story with very little moving footage – but we have an ingenious team who are working on imaginative ways to bring the film alive.

Sadly, many of The Corinthians are no longer here to tell their own story. Which is why we are so grateful to the amazing players who are taking part to record their achievements for posterity. We are also working with families of players and the team’s manager Percy Ashley.

Women’s football is vastly under-represented in history books and museums, making it extremely difficult to build up an accurate picture of events. So we are excited to be working with our historical consultant, Professor Jean Williams, who wrote The History of Women’s Football, is the leading academic author on women’s football in the world, and is a consultant to the FIFA Museum in Zurich and the National Football Museum in Manchester.

Share, share, share!

If you want to help us reach our goal then please share with as many friends and family as possible. We know there are thousands of football fans, proud Mancunians and women who just want to see more female history celebrated out there…

Thank you from all the team!