Karren Brady was often referred to as the first lady of football and pioneered the way forward for future generations of women within football. Her first appointment was with Birmingham City in 1993 when she was given the role of managing director, aged just 23 years by the club’s then-owner David Sullivan.

Sexism within the game was rife back then and the first time she got onto the team bus, a player said “I can see your tits from here“. Brady replied “When I sell you to Crewe, you won’t be able to see them from there will you?“

After two years at St Andrews, Karren married the Blues striker Paul Peschisolido but a year later he was sold to local rivals West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £600,000. Despite the transfer the couple still remain married to this day.

Following the sale of Birmingham City to new ownership in 2009 the talented business women moved with former owners Gold and Sullivan to West Ham United where she still resides as Vice-Chair.