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Newcastle Women remember Wembley match 30 years on

Rachel SweeneyBBC Radio Newcastle
News imageLynn Simmonette Newcastle Women FC women, wearing black and white striped football shorts, and black shorts and football boots, crouch down and some stand up, holding trophies on a grass field. Lynn Simmonette
News imageElaine Vallack Margaret Hodgson, with short curly hair, smiles as she walks along a path, wearing a t-shirt that says Newcastle W.F.C, three other women walk beside her. Elaine Vallack
The team had to fundraise to play at Wembley for the first time.
Margaret Hodgson (centre) before the game on Wembley Way.

Nearly 30 years ago, Newcastle Women's Football Club made history in their first game at Wembley.

It was a warm-up match on 11 August 1996 ahead of Newcastle United's Charity Shield against Manchester United, where Alan Shearer made his debut following a world record £15m transfer fee.

The team lost 2-0 but became the first Newcastle women's team to play at the stadium.

Founded by Kim Moore in 1989, the team was set up because, she said, there were "fewer opportunities for women, especially North East women".

"We weren't affiliated with Newcastle United until 2005 so we had to fundraise to get to Wembley, but it was a dream come true."

Newcastle Women FC became Newcastle United Women FC in 2005 when they officially became part of Newcastle United.

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