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.
​​Fighting in the factory and on the football field
The Northern Echo, 7 February 2015
Gordon Smith
Without the Blyth historian Gordon Smith (d. May 2025), 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."
WOR BELLA supporters
Brian Johnson of AC/DC
From one Geordie to another.
AC/DC's Brian Johnson, a Dunston-born lad (the same as Harry Clasper) and keen historian, sent a message of support to Ed.
"I can’t wait to read the Geordie Plays. I think it's important that we remember these great characters. My personal favourite name is Hadaway Harry."
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"While the songs Joe Wilson wrote are still loved by us older Geordies today, I hope the young can learn from these past Tyneside heroes of music, comedy and sport and carry on our proud traditions."
"Many congratulations on the book and much success."
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And on Wor Bella...
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"What a story! It's a shame more people haven’t heard of this wonderful woman. I wish you all the success with the show. Long may it run. Bella Forever!"
Lynn Gibson, Co-Founder Women's Banner Group
Learning lessons from our history.
The Women's Banner Group (WBG) was founded in November 2017 to gain recognition for the women of the Durham Coalfield that history has forgotten. We campaign at both the Durham Miners' Gala and beyond.
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The WBG stands up for women's rights, human rights, dignity at work, period dignity, the right to choose, body autonomy, body neutrality, LGBTQI+ rights, refugees and asylum seekers. We also stand against intolerance in all its forms: racism, homophobia, sexism, ageism, misogyny, greedy capitalism and selfishness.
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The WBG believes in educating young people in debate, that their voices matter and that they should be seen and heard, that all people should be encouraged to learn their own history and learn the lessons. We firmly believe women's histories should not only be remembered but also taught and recorded. This and so much more. We don't just make banners!
Wor Bella appeals to the WBG because one of our founding reasons was to gain recognition for the historically important women of the Durham Coalfield, whom history has forgotten.
Sadly, we are becoming more and more aware of just how much working-class women’s achievements have been missed out of recorded history.
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The way the heroic munitionettes were treated was shocking: from playing football to crowds of tens of thousands during WW1 (the 1918 final in Middlesbrough attracted over 22,000 spectators) to an FA-initiated ban in 1921 that disallowed women's football games from taking place on the grounds used by its member clubs. That ban remained in effect until July 1971.
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We are delighted Ed has written a play about this, and that the incredible efforts of the millions of women who stepped into male roles in the munitions factory during WWI and played football to crowds of thousands (to raise money for wartime charities) are being remembered.
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If you are interested in the Women's Banner Group, please visit the Facebook page.
Tony Platten, Chairman of Blyth Spartans AFC
The Wor Bella team would like to thank Blyth Spartans AFC chairman Tony Platten for his personal, tremendous support for the project.
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In addition to his financial commitment, Tony has been enthusiastically on board since we mentioned the potential play in 2019.
Tony has selflessly offered rehearsal facilities and marketing provisions.
In addition to ensuring our printed materials have been distributed among Blyth Spartans AFC supporters, Tony has personally placed two large vinyl "Wor Bella" banners in Croft Park and, wherever possible, has encouraged people to attend the play.
David Haldane, internationally renowned cartoonist and satirist
Wor Bella cartoon by David Haldane (2021)
(Copyright: David Haldane)
Who is David Haldane?
Well, we'll let David tell you himself.
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"At nine years old, I had my first bit of luck. I contracted scarlet fever and was confined to bed for several weeks. It was then that I discovered cartoons; a family friend was a merchant seaman, and he provided me with piles of “Funnies".
These were the comic sections of American newspapers he brought from overseas, and they introduced me to the cartoon characters Popeye, Krazy Kat and Nancy.
As I grew older, the cartoon bug never left me. I was inspired by the great cartoonists in newspapers and magazines, including Punch, which was the most celebrated.
It soon became a goal to have one of my cartoons accepted for publication. After much rejection (something freelance cartoonists have to put up with almost on a weekly basis), my first cartoon was published in January 1978.
Thus began a long and fruitful association with Punch magazine, which lasted until its closure in 1992.
In a career spanning over thirty years, my work has appeared in books, national newspapers, satirical publications (Private Eye and The Spectator), advertising campaigns and on television in Spitting Image.
Until recently, I was the daily pocket cartoonist for The Times, often featuring on the front page.
As well as continuing with topical work, I now produce several ranges of greeting cards.
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My recovery from scarlet fever all those years ago was down to penicillin. Without antibiotics, I wouldn’t have survived, so you could say Sir Alexander Fleming was instrumental in kick-starting my career. History remembers Sir Alexander Fleming.
Surely the likes of Bella Reay, Blyth Spartans Ladies and the Munitionettes should likewise be remembered."