Life Stories

Football Makes History gathers life stories of unique individuals that help us connect the history of football to diversity and inclusion.

What is Football Lives?

History can be explored through the lives of individuals. This collection gives you the opportunity to discover just how the life stories of people in football (players, coaches, referees and administrators) are intertwined with social, cultural, economic and political histories.

These histories may be small and local, or they may have impacted the world. This collection is not a hall of fame, and – just like the study of the past – it is not final. We note the significance of these life stories based on what history, and indeed present, they shed light on.

Some football lives are heroic and have paved the way for inclusion, democracy and human rights. Others have done just the opposite. In order for us to learn about the past through the lens of individuals, we include thinking points for each life story.

Top Reader Rating Scores

Let's rate our football lives!

Marcinkus rushing to the ball, 18th of May 1928 (Photo: Svetys).

Romualdas Marcinkus

Baltic views on WWII through the eyes of a young player turned pilot.

Helen Graham Matthews in 1895 (Photo: South West News Service, public domain).

Mrs Graham

Helen was one of the founding figures of the women’s game. She was a suffragist and a campaigner for women’s rights. She was the first woman to set up the stall for serious women's football.

Fatmire Alushi in action for Paris St Germain against Wolfsburg (Pierre-Yves Beaudouin, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0).

Fatmire Alushi

Fatmire Bajramaj Alushi was a refugee from war, she achieved star status in German women’s football and won the World Cup. Her story is one diversity, equality and inclusion.

Trending

Last 30-Days Engaging Stories on Football Makes History

Andrew Watson (top centre) with the Scottish team that played England at Hampden Park on the 11 March 1882 (The Glasgow Story).

Andrew Watson

The first black international player?

Jean-Marc Bosman playing for Standard Liege.

Jean-Marc Bosman

Revolutionary who set footballers free

La Mujer el Football (Women and Football). Florrie Redford of Dick, Kerr’s Ladies greets Carmen Pomies, captain of France, 1925 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons).

Florrie Redford

The Preston Munitionette

Featured Life Story

Latest Tips

Winnie McKenna, captain of Ireland v England, Belfast 1921

Winnie McKenna

Though he is remembered for scoring the most goals in a World Cup, Fontaine also worked tirelessly to defend footballers’ rights.

Oldest

Lives

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Reinwardt Academy - Amsterdam University of the Arts

EuroClio - Inspiring History and Citizenship Educators

Eintracht Frankfurt Museum

Zespół Szkół Technicznych i Ogólnokształcących Nr 2