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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