A CITY’S high-flying female footballers have been invited to join the party as a new civic focal point is formally opened on Bank Holiday Monday (August 31).

Various civic officials and guests will be in attendance at the launch party for Keel Square, a £3m landmark development in Sunderland city centre.

Designed to herald Sunderland’s shipbuilding and other industrial heritage, it features a newly created public art feature, Propellors of the City, plus an array of fountains and other fixtures and fittings.

Modern-day city trailblazers, the Sunderland AFC Ladies football side, which is challenging for the Women’s Super League crown, have now been added to the guest list, as their weekend fixture is a day earlier, on Sunday, at home to Doncaster Rovers Belles.

As part of the opening ceremony, moving and still images of the Port of Sunderland will be projected, with a re-enactment of the heroic Sunderland-born sailor, Jack Crawford’s brave seafaring deeds, and demonstrations of the skills of the old city shipbuilders.

The official opening will be performed by Sunderland Mayor, councillor Barry Curran, and city council leader Paul Watson, at 11am, but events, including live music performances, will run until 2pm.

Keel Square is just off St Mary’s Way and High Street West, near the city’s Gillbridge Police Station and magistrates’ court.