1.
I was England’s first Black manager.
Hope Powell CBE: Brighton & Hove Albion WFC manager, England
Position: Attacking Midfield
Has anyone else had a bigger impact on women’s football and its intersectionality than Hope Powell since the ban was lifted in England in 1971? Capped 66 times for her country, the former central midfielder scored 35 goals and won the FA Cup twice before becoming England’s first female and Black manager in 1998. The 55-year-old coached the Lionesses for 15 years, qualifying for the Women’s World Cup in 2007 after a 12-year absence, and managed Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics. Hope has been manager at Brighton WFC since 2017.
2.
I don’t care if you are offended.
Jess Grant: mother, grassroots footballer, founder of a Brighton-based female-focused FC, England
Position: Midfield
Temporarily relegating football from competitive priority to recreational activity was a no-brainer for Grant after giving birth in 2021. The 29- year-old Chelsea fan works with sexual violence survivors, mentors underprivileged girls, and founded a Brighton-based female-focused grassroots team in 2018. A non-judgmental, empowering and accessible space for women, non-binary and trans folk to play football, and then in 2019 founded a more social-based spin-off. The groups spearheaded the launch of Brighton’s only 5-a-side women’s league that same year.
Nike MR4 Shox by @martine_rose
Photographer: @pascalgambarte
Art Director & Stylist: @tamararothstein1
Casting Director: @isabelbush_
PR & Comms: @agencyeleven
Production: @cebestudio
All the love to @martine_rose@tamararothstein1@ouestlecanard@donalmaccrann@madisonhahn_ 🌹
1.
I safeguard women in football.
Kat Craig: human rights lawyer, Athlead CEO, CANDI football coach, activist, England
Position: Left Back
From supporting sexual abuse victims in football to helping evacuate the Afghanistan women's team in 2021, Kat Craig's passion for fighting systemic injustice has fuelled her career and powerful activism. The leading human rights lawyer also co-wrote The Protest
Handbook defending people's right to protest legally, and launched non-profit Athlead in 2016 to support athletes who want to use sport to create positive social change. Craig has also run empowering community football club CANDI (Camden and Islington United) and coached its teams since 2019.
2.
I hope to come back stronger.
Marta Corredera: international footballer, mother-to-be, Spain
Position: Right Back
Had Corredera’s first child not been due this summer, the 30-year-old would have been part of Spain’s Euro 2022 squad. The ex-Barcelona and Arsenal winger-turned-fullback has played at the top level for 15 years, scoring memorable goals and competing at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. She continues to push for better pitches and improved conditions for professional female footballers. Marta is the first active Real Madrid Femenino player to get pregnant, and she is proud to see record women’s football attendances in Spain.
Nike MR4 Shox by @martine_rose
Photographer: @pascalgambarte
Art Director & Stylist: @tamararothstein1
Casting Director: @isabelbush_
PR & Comms: @agencyeleven
Production: @cebestudio
All the love to @martine_rose@tamararothstein1@ouestlecanard@donalmaccrann@madisonhahn_ 🌹
1.
We won’t be silenced.
Khartoum Dembelé & Founé Diawara from Les Hijabeuses: social justice campaigners fighting against the Hijab ban, France
Position: Right midfield, Left midfield
The French Football Federation’s hijab ban spurred a group of young Muslim female footballers to mobilise and form Les Hijabeuses in Paris in 2020. Their fierce campaign against the ban spans viral social media videos, international press stories, peaceful protests, even a lawsuit; and the collective soon realised that their defiance is part of a bigger battle to end discrimination and inherent Islamophobia in wider society. Now over 100 members strong, Les Hijabeuses put on matches, training sessions and social events to bring hijab-wearing women together safely.
2.
I’m strong, not fragile.
Ruth Ruano: pilot, mother, footballer, Spain
Position: Forward
Ruano received unexpected vitriol when a picture of her breastfeeding her daughter in the Sporting Son Ferrer dugout went viral in 2019. And despite record women’s football attendances in her home country Spain, the single mum of two and European Air Charter pilot has been dismissed as a ‘Marie Macho’ her whole life for excelling at football, volleyball and basketball. But all of this only fuels the 39-year-old as she advocates for a pro-women mentality shift – inspired by the mothers in the trailblazing, trophy-winning USWNT.
Nike MR4 Shox by @martine_rose
Photographer: @pascalgambarte
Art Director & Stylist: @tamararothstein1
Casting Director: @isabelbush_
PR & Comms: @agencyeleven
Production: @cebestudio
All the love to @martine_rose@tamararothstein1@ouestlecanard@donalmaccrann@madisonhahn_ 🌹
An honour to help bring the Metallic Fund Space to life with the best team 💫
@metallicinclondon@thomasbird@randa2.5d
Production by @cebestudio
Endless thanks to @alexsossah & @graceladoja for your continued trust and support ♥️
“The Metallic Fund Space was created to house and support unrepresented creatives, in this space our creatives can feel welcome, valued, included and safe. Now entering week 8 of our Metallic Fund Fashion Design Programme we can confidently say that the space continues to encapsulate the key pillars of the Metallic Fund. ✨” @metallicinclondon