A Long Road to Glory: The Lionesses Origin Story | Part One

Welcome back to another episode of It Was What It Was with hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper as they delve into the history of The Lionesses and the true story behind the first ever women's Euros. This episode explores the struggles and triumphs of women's football, from the controversial FA ban in 1921, to England's historic victory in the 2025 Euros. Rob and Jonathan look into the pioneering efforts of teams like the Dick, Kerr Ladies and the Manchester Corinthians, looking at how women's football overcame a 50-year ban to shine on the world stage. Join us as we uncover the groundbreaking stories and resilient pioneers behind this incredible journey through a century of women's football history.

00:00 Introduction: Girls and Football

00:51 The Ban on Women's Football

01:37 The Struggle and Triumph of Women's Football

03:02 The Dick, Kerr Ladies and Their Legacy

04:22 The Impact of the FA Ban

07:00 International Tours and Recognition

12:59 Manchester Corinthians: A New Hope

18:34 Cultural Contrasts in Women's Football

20:48 The First Women's Euros: A Hidden History

22:10 The Rise and Fall of the International Ladies Football Association

26:21 Manchester Corinthians: Pioneers of Women's Football

32:21 Missed Opportunities and Reflections

38:44 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions

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