Tyneside had witnessed ladies’ football before the munitionettes.

 

In 1895, Miss Nettie Honeyball, also referred to as Nettie J. Honeyball, and her British Ladies’ Football Club (BLFC) visited North East England during their tour of Britain.

 

They staged three exhibition matches at Mowbray Road (South Shields), Feethams (Darlington) and Newcastle’s St. James’ Park. The latter match was played on 20 April 1895 and attracted a crowd of 8,000 - a record for the time.