Headstone honours 'forgotten' Jarrow football star Mary Lyons

BBC News

27-04-2025

A female football superstar from World War One has been honoured 46 years after her death.Mary Lyons was born in Jarrow in 1902, and in 1918 at the age of 15 made her England debut, scoring a goal which ensured a win against Scotland.She went on to play in other matches including cup finals, but by the time she died in 1979 her achievements had been forgotten and she was buried in an unmarked grave in Jarrow Cemetery.Local organisation Friends of Jarrow Cemetery was at the forefront of getting recognition for the town's forgotten football hero and after discovering her final resting place - and has now installed a permanent headstone.
A ceremony for the unveiling of the headstone was attended by local dignitaries including two local ex-England Lionesses.
During World War One, many munitions factories set up football teams for female employees, including Palmers Shipbuilding Company in Hebburn.Lyons, who began work at the factory aged 14, joined the Palmers team but was soon seconded to Blyth Spartans, before playing for England, and then captaining the Palmers team to win the Munitionettes' Cup final.Local historian Stewart Hill said: "So by the age of 16, Mary had won two cup finals, scored in one, captained her team in the other - only two finals were ever played - and became the youngest-ever England player and goal scorer."What a brilliant achievement."Imagine what she would be like today, given the modern game and opportunities."
Not much is known about her subsequent history, but when she died in 1979 she was buried in an unmarked grave along with three other women.Her resting place was discovered by Friends of Jarrow Cemetery, and was given a temporary wooden cross last year, but it has now been marked with the stone that lists her achievements.
Ex-Lionesses Christine Knox, who won ten England caps in the 1970s and 1980s, and Aran Embleton, the first millennial Geordie Lioness, attended the unveiling ceremony.Aran Embleton said: "I am proud to have been invited to recognise Mary who, like the incredible Bella Reay of Blyth Spartans and other women of their generation, played women's football until it was banned by the FA in 1921."Players like Christine and I, and the current Lionesses, stand on the shoulders of these brilliant working class women from more than 100 years ago."
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