WOR BELLA RESEARCHers
Patrick Brennan
Without Patrick Brennan's dedication, this important subject would still be little known, and our exciting project would not be happening.
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Patrick's book, The Munitionettes: A History of Women's Football in North East England During the Great War, is a must for anyone who wants to read further. This book is currently out of stock, but please get in touch with Patrick here if you'd like to register your interest.​
Ladies Doing it for Themselves: Blyth Spartans Ladies 1917-1918
By Patrick Brennan, with an introduction by Graham Usher
Chris Lloyd
Chris Lloyd, a former North East Journalist of the Year, is the chief feature writer of The Northern Echo.
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Chris has produced many important articles about local history, not least his brilliant work on munitionettes' football on Teesside during WWI.
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Fighting in the factory and on the football field
The Northern Echo, 7 February 2015
Gordon Smith
Without Blyth historian Gordon Smith, this project would not be happening.
Gordon, who lives near Blyth town centre, is chairman of the Blyth Local History Society (BLHS) and the author of three books about his beloved home manor. In 2002, he co-wrote Images of England: Blyth Volume II with fellow historian Bob Balmer, who in 2011 received an OBE for services to maritime heritage in the North East.
His next book was Blyth Through Time (2012). In 2016, he produced Blyth – History Tour.
Thanks to his meticulous research - scouring all the local newspapers from 1913 to 1921 - he was able to collate the fixtures, team line-ups and reports of every Blyth Spartans Ladies match.
Gordon said, "I'm intrigued by the history of Blyth, and the women's football during WWI is an incredible time in Blyth's story. It must have been exciting following such a successful team. The research took four years and is ongoing, and I'm delighted it can be put to such good use."
Gordon added: "I'm really excited about seeing Wor Bella and I hope as many people as possible get involved in the project, even if it's just coming to the talk. With the planned talks, the exhibition and the play itself, there are plenty of activities for people with an interest in the subject."
A Love Supreme
Thanks to A Love Supreme, the excellent Sunderland fanzine, for putting this appeal out.
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"At the weekend, immediately after hammering Reading 5-0 to win the Women's league title back to back, Chelsea's manager Emma Hayes asked her players whether they liked winning. The response was an enthusiastic affirmative. "Well, do it again next week!” she enthused as her side prepares to take on the mighty Barcelona in the Champions League final.
It's this same winning mentality that must have seeped into the very marrow of Blyth Spartans Ladies who, during WWI, were the region's champion munitionettes' team, with an enviable record of 26 wins and four draws in their 30 games."
