Today marks a historic moment for women’s football as Foudys officially opens the doors to the world’s first dedicated women’s football retail store in Manchester. Founded by Helen Hardy in 2020, Foudys was created to address a fundamental gap in football retail, ensuring women and girls have access to products, merchandise and experiences designed specifically for them.
To celebrate the opening, Foudys has collaborated with Manchester-based seamstress Another Knitted Thing and football fanzine GIRLFANS, to create a series of bespoke giant football scarves, which were dramatically unveiled from the building’s upper windows.
Hardy said: “Today is a huge milestone, not just for Foudys, but for women’s football. For too long, women and girls have been underserved by traditional sport retail, with stores designed through a male lens and products, experiences and advice that don’t always reflect their needs.
“Through our online community, we’ve spent the last six years listening to players and fans, understanding what they want from a football retail experience. They’re looking for a mix of performance and lifestyle products, specialist expertise and a welcoming environment where they feel comfortable asking questions, whether they’re buying their first pair of boots or supporting their favourite team.
“Opening the doors to the world’s first dedicated women’s football store is our way of bringing that vision to life. We wanted to create a space where women and girls feel seen, represented and celebrated, and where the culture of women’s football has a permanent home on the high street. Today is the beginning of that journey, and we can’t wait to welcome the community in.”
The opening comes at a landmark moment for women’s sport. According to Deloitte, global revenue in women’s elite sports is forecast to exceed US$3 billion for the first time in 2026, reflecting rapid growth in participation, fandom and commercial investment.
Designed specifically for women and girls, the store offers a fresh alternative to traditional sports retail environments. Customers can browse official merchandise, football boots, performance apparel and lifestyle collections from leading global brands including Nike, Adidas and Puma, alongside exclusive collaborations and limited-edition products.
The space has been carefully designed to provide a welcoming and supportive environment, with expert staff trained to help customers navigate everything from boot fitting and performance products to sports bra fittings and period-wear advice.
Located in the heart of Manchester, the store is intended to be more than a retail destination. Foudys plans to host a year-round programme of community events, including match watch parties, Panini sticker swaps, player talks, grassroots football meetups and creative workshops celebrating football culture.
The launch builds on Foudys’ position as one of the leading businesses in women’s football retail. Earlier this year the company was named Football Business of the Year at the Women’s Football Awards and continues to champion greater visibility, accessibility and representation across the game.
As women’s football continues its rapid rise, Foudys hopes the new Manchester store will set a new benchmark for how the sport is represented on the high street and create a permanent home for the community that has helped fuel its growth
Leah Galton, Barclays Women’s Super League player, who was in attendance for the launch says: “Long before women’s football was receiving the attention it does today, Helen was working to make sure players and fans had access to products, experiences and opportunities that simply didn’t exist.
“Seeing Foudys open the world’s first dedicated women’s football store feels like a natural next step in that journey. It’s a reflection of how far the game has come, and the hard work people like Helen have put in behind the scenes to help drive that progress.
“What I love most is that this isn’t just a shop. It’s a space where players, fans and young girls can come together, feel represented and celebrate their love of football. I would have loved this when I was growing up.”
Catherine Bedford a grassroots football player from Manchester who was among those queuing for the opening, says: “As a player, the opening of Foudys means a lot to me. So many sport stores still feel like they’re designed with men and boys in mind, and it can be intimidating if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for. Having a space dedicated to women’s football where you can ask questions, get advice and feel understood is important.”
📍 Foudys is now open at 293 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EW.
