Helen Hardy is a game-changer in every sense of the word—not just in football, but in representation, access, and equity in sport. Through Manchester Laces, the city’s first inclusive football club for women and non-binary players, and Foudys, the UK’s first retailer dedicated to women’s football merchandise, Helen is dismantling the barriers that have held women’s football back for generations.
Football has never been just a game—it’s about identity, belonging, and culture. Yet for too long, women’s football has been an afterthought. Clubs existed, but not everyone felt welcome. Fans wanted kits, yet they didn’t exist. Players had talent, though the infrastructure wasn’t built for them. Helen Hardy saw these gaps and took action.
In 2020, Manchester Laces was born—not just as a club, but as a community where ability, gender, and background didn’t dictate whether you belonged. From the first kickabout to a thriving, growing club, she has built something that proves football is for everyone. In a world where women and non-binary people are still forced to justify their place in the sport, Manchester Laces has become a movement, a statement, and a space that should have always existed.
The lack of representation for women’s football fans was just as glaring. While men’s England kits were available on every high street, official shirts for the women’s team were nowhere to be found. The industry claimed there wasn’t enough demand. Helen proved them wrong. She launched Foudys, ensuring that for the first time, fans of women’s football could buy official kits and merchandise just as easily as any Premier League supporter.
Her impact has been impossible to ignore. In 2022, Helen was immortalised on the steps of Wembley Stadium, a testament to how she is rewriting the rules of the game. Where others waited for change, she made it happen. She is not just elevating women’s football—she is forcing the world to take it seriously.
Manchester has always been a city of bold ideas and fearless changemakers. Helen Hardy belongs in that legacy. Through vision, persistence, and an unshakable belief in equity, she has transformed the footballing landscape—not just by demanding change, but by building it herself.
About Frameworthy
Frameworthy is an uplifting and powerful exhibition series celebrating those making the greatest difference—changemakers—through art. Held throughout the UK and further afield in iconic arts-related and cultural venues, Frameworthy exhibitions and art shows are unique and inspiring occasions where changemakers from all backgrounds come together, mingling in front of art that honours them, alongside dignitaries, the press, and fellow changemakers.
Through powerful storytelling, breathtaking art, and unforgettable exhibitions, Frameworthy celebrates impact, community, and the beauty of cultural spaces. Each portrait is created at no cost to the changemaker, ensuring that those shaping our world are recognised in the timeless medium of art.
More than just an exhibition, Frameworthy is a joyful, diverse, and meaningful celebration—where changemakers, remarkable venues, and the communities they serve are honoured and uplifted.
Discover more about Frameworthy’s exhibitions and the people we celebrate here.
