In 1949, a group of women in Manchester formed The Corinthians, defying the FA's 50-year ban on women's football. Playing on muddy fields in Fog Lane Park, they embraced the motto 'rules are there to be broken.' The team was created by Percy Ashley so his deaf daughter Doris could play the sport she loved.

Women's football had surged in popularity during World War I, with matches drawing crowds of over 50,000. But in 1921, the FA declared football 'quite unsuitable for females' and banned women from FA-affiliated grounds. The Corinthians persisted, training without facilities and eventually drawing massive crowds to stadiums like Sporting Lisbon. They won international silverware, including an unofficial European Cup in 1957 and victories over Juventus and German teams.

The team's resilience was instrumental in advancing women's football globally. Now aged 70-90, 10 surviving players share their story in the documentary 'The Corinthians: We Were The Champions.' Their legacy as 'one of the most successful women's teams the UK ever had' is finally being recognized, with screenings across the country.