Before Mary Earps, Jess Fishlock, and Lucy Bronze, there were the trailblazers who defied the odds.

In 1921, the FA banned women from playing football, but these rebels refused to quit. Leaving behind jobs, families, and their homeland, they sought opportunities abroad, where they could fulfil their footballing potential.

This book uncovers the untold stories of those pioneering women who paved the way for today’s stars. The original Lioness who started a new life in the Netherlands as a teenager, the first woman of colour to play for England, the girl who gave up the chance of international recognition to play in Italy – through their reflections, we explore their extraordinary journeys, the evolution of women’s football, and the dreams they still hold for the future.