Lioness star added to mural
A MURAL celebrating women’s footballing trailblazers is set to be updated to include England player Beth Mead, following the Lionesses’ victory in the Euros.
After the England team brought football home by winning 2-1 against Germany in the UEFA Women’s Championship final, a Darlington charity is marking their achievement in a very unique way. The England forward will be added to a special painting after she was awarded the coveted Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament for her performance in the Euros.
Her image will join seven other inspiring individuals, including two of her England teammates, on the wall of the Arthur Wharton Foundation’s headquarters on Drury Street, Darlington. The painting was created by a local artist who worked alongside the charity to celebrate female figures involved in football both past and present.
Of the new addition to the mural, artist Jillian Johnston said: “Obviously we have put in the current players like Lucy Bronze and Jill Scott, but we’re adding Beth Mead. She’s the golden boot, she’s got to be on there.
“It’s a celebration of all that she has achieved, so she’s got to go up there. It’s a wonderful celebration and I’m going to go back and start adding it in.”
The artwork was created in honour of the international football tournament and Jillian began the portraits at the time of the England players’ first match in July. Also featured are historic icons and local women’s football legends like Hope Powell CBE, England women’s first ever fulltime national coach, and Lillie Galloway, who founded Darlington’s
first ever women’s football team in 1925.
The Arthur Wharton Foundation was set up to honour the life, work and legacy of its namesake who is said to be ‘the world’s first black professional footballer’ and began his sporting career after moving from Ghana to Darlington.
The charity aims to promote embracing culture and diversity across sport, and fight against racism.
In a post, the charity, which is founded by Shaun Campbell, said:
“We always knew that we would be celebrating the Women’s Euros 2022 with a Celebrating Women’s Footballing Trailblazers mural. It was always going to happen.
“Creating the opportunity for a talented, local female artist, and getting the local community involved was also really important to us.”
The mural has already proved popular across the town and beyond, with many people paying a visit so they can see the artwork in person at Drury Street.