Manchester Corinthians: The day Trautmann called | OneFootball

We continue our series on the pioneering Manchester Corinthians women’s team by focusing on their 1950s tours.

Established in Didsbury during the 1948-49 season, by the mid 1950s the Manchester Corinthians were keen to travel abroad and play football against continental women’s teams.

In England a ban meant that women’s clubs were not allowed to play on FA affiliated grounds, while those connected with FA affiliated clubs were banned from getting involved with women’s teams.

Despite this, one of Manchester City’s biggest legends, goalkeeper Bert Trautmann, decided he would promote women’s football.

90-year-old Mary Bee was recently a guest at City’s WSL meeting with United at the Etihad and remembers the day in 1957 when she first met Trautmann: "There’s a knock at the door. I opened the door to someone I knew very well – [or] knew of.

"I’d never actually spoken with him. It was Bert Trautmann, stood there with a smaller man. He came to ask if we’d go to Germany."

Trautmann had become involved with an organisation promoting women’s football in Germany and elsewhere.

Mary lived with Doris Ashley (the Corinthians’ captain) and her father Percy Ashley (the Corinthians’ manager) in Didsbury and Trautmann’s visit to the Ashley home was significant.

It led to him taking the Corinthians on tour in Germany, playing high profile friendly matches against German teams.

Trautmann travelled with the women, offered help and advice to some of the players and watched their games.

Later, in 1957, Trautmann encouraged the Corinthians to represent England in a European Cup competition organised by the International Ladies Football Association.

Sadly, Trautmann couldn’t go on the second trip as he had the small matter of playing league games for City’s men’s team to focus on.

No doubt he would have been proud however as the Corinthians, playing as an unofficial England team, ended up winning the European trophy in Berlin.

Mary Bee was a member of the triumphant Manchester team. She was rightly proud of that success and of the interest shown in women’s football by both Trautmann then and by City in the decades that have followed.

At the recent WSL derby Mary demonstrated that her passion for the sport remains as strong as ever as she gave her tactical interpretation of the game. It was wonderful to see her love of football was still so strong.

While playing for the Corinthians Mary frequently attended City men’s games. Other Corinthians who were regularly to be seen at Maine Road were sisters Shirley and Elaine Orange.

Like Mary they were regulars for the Corinthians in the 1950s and enjoyed touring Europe representing Manchester and women’s football.

Shirley passed on her love of football to her children. Wayne Murray, Shirley’s son, is immensely proud of his mum’s achievements as a Corinthian and her attempts at challenging those who felt women should not play: "Mum would have been one of the ones standing up against the establishment and saying 'why can’t we play?'

"If there was something that was wrong that needed challenging, she’d do it.’

Shirley participated in many significant Corinthians games, including two tours to Portugal in the fifties as the club participated in high profile tours.

During these tours they often attended significant functions alongside playing football in some of Europe’s leading stadia.

Wayne talks fondly of his mum’s playing days and of her support for City: "Mum and Elaine followed City home and away throughout the fifties.

"They went to both FA Cup finals (1955 & 1956) and were watching City one day then playing for the Corinthians the next.

"It was football all the way, either in Manchester watching at Maine Road or playing at Fog Lane. Or going away with City or with the Corinthians. Non-stop football."

BUY MANCHESTER CORINTHIANS: THE AUTHORISED HISTORY

Sadly, Shirley died in June 2023 at the age of 89 but she is remembered in Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History.

Photographs, match reports and other memorabilia, alongside stories from over fifty women who played for the club make this a special book. The 1950s tours are covered in detail of course.

It’s truly significant that men’s players like Bert Trautmann not only supported the club but travelled with them at a time when society and the authorities claimed women should not play.

Next week Gary will be talking about a City supporting Corinthian who found major success with the club in Venezuela.

Manchester Corinthians: The Authorised History is available from all usual book retailers and can be ordered direct from Gary by clicking here.