A stunning mural celebrating the nation’s female football heritage has been completed in time for the Lionesses to take on Germany in the final of the Euros.

Artists and curators have teamed up to mark the start of the women’s Euro 2022 football tournament by painting the faces of several important figures on the walls of a Darlington charity’s headquarters.

The mural outside the Arthur Wharton Foundation, in Drury Street, is now complete.

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It has been done by Newton Aycliffe artist Jilly Johnston, who has been painting the likes of North East England stars Lucy Bronze and Jill Scott.

They feature alongside Lillie Galloway, a former Darlington player who then became manager, leading her Darlington Quaker Girls to become “the crack women’s football team of the north” and current Darlington women’s goalkeeper Martina Cuccunato.

The Northern Echo: The mural while it was still being painted Picture: THE NORTHERN ECHOThe mural while it was still being painted Picture: THE NORTHERN ECHO (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Shaun Campbell, who set the foundation up, said: “We’re very proud of them and knowing the history of the game makes it all the more special.

“We wish the best of luck to them.

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“It’s putting women’s football on the map. It’s good to see the strength of the North East in the squad though it’s frustrating seeing other parts of the country benefiting from having games in the area when we haven’t had any.”

The foundation has been working to raise awareness about the history of the women’s game, which was banned by the FA between 1921 and 1971.

The wall regularly features sport-related murals, with previous artworks including a tribute to Emma Raducanu’s US Open win and of course England’s men’s team making it to the final of Euro 2020.

 

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