FOOTBALL STORY IS COMING HOME…

The amazing story of a wartime footballer is to be the subject of the inaugural public talks at the new Community Hub at Cramlington.

 

The true-life tale of a WWI footballer who has been called the Alan Shearer of their time will inspire and engage…and no doubt amaze when you realise the footballer in question is female!

 

At the event, which is being supported by Cramlington Town Council, North East playwright and author Ed Waugh’s will talk about ‘Wor Bella’ who was a star striker for Blyth Spartans Ladies team.

 

During the 1914-1918 war years, hundreds of football teams were formed by munitions workers, with tens of thousands attending the games and a new group of footballing superstars were born.

 

Bella Reay from Bebside was the hero of the Spartans team, netting 133 goals in 30 matches and Blyth Spartans Ladies became the top North East team from 1918 to 1919, winning the 1918 Munitionettes cup in front of 23,000 people at Ayresome Park when they defeated Bolckow-Vaughan  from Middlesbrough.

 

The heroic female munitions workers played football to raise money for wartime charities with huge crowds watching the matches, including 20,000 at St James’ Park, Newcastle.

 

The talks are being held at the Community Hub at Cramlington on Monday, August 9, at 2pm and 7pm. Entry is free but booking is essential.

 

They will be introduced by Cramlington Town Mayor Loraine De Simone who said “I confess that I had never heard about Bella Reay before – what an amazing woman! Ed’s talk relates to life a century ago but in some ways it is very modern and still relative to today – the tale of a footballing hero overcoming prejudice – sound familiar? And it’s great that it is being held in the new Community Hub which is a fantastic asset for the whole town.”

 

Ed, whose hit plays include Hadaway Harry, Carrying David and The Great Joe Wilson – all of which feature in his new book called Geordie Heroes, said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to have had plays on all over the region, nationally and internationally but this is the the first time I’ve ever done anything in Cramlington and I’m really looking forward to it. The play ‘Wor Bella’ is being staged in spring 2022 and these talks are an opportunity to hear about the fascinating life of the woman it is based on.”

 

Maggie Martin, Community and Youth Manager at Cramlington Town Council, said: “We are delighted to be supporting a brilliant event like this. It’s an opportunity to hear Ed and learn about how the excellent women footballers of today stand on the shoulders of these brilliant munitionettes from a hundred years ago.”

 

Entry is free but booking is essential. Monday, August 9, at 2pm and 7pm.

Tickets; https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wor-bella-public-talk-tickets-161935418195 or contact maggie@cramlingtontowncouncil.gov.uk

 

For further information about Bella Reay visit www.worbella.co.uk

Or contact Ed Waugh on ed.waugh@blueyonder.co.uk