NORTH-EAST actress Viktoria Kay will give a talk on Friday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mary Lyons becoming the youngest ever England international and goal scorer when she made her debut against Scotland at St James' Park, Newcastle.

On July 20, the 15 year old Jarrow Lass represented England Munitionettes against Scotland in front of 20,000 people. Not only did she help England to victory, the diminutive inside forward netted at the end of the first half resulting in a 3-2 win for England.

This forgotten football history involved the munitionettes who were employed in the support work for British troops during the first world war.

Vik, who's CV includes the national tour of Pitman Painters, said: "The bloodshed on the French front resulted in massive male casualties and when conscription was introduced after the carnage of Ypres in 1916 – with half a million British casualties – women were drafted into the munitions factories.

"By early 1917 80 per cent of the workforce were women, 'munitionettes' who started dozens of workplace teams in the industrial centres of the North East. Attendances of 26,000 were recorded at St James Park and 18,000 at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough."

Vik continued: "Once the teams were formed, stars emerged. One of these was Mary Lyons who worked at Palmers Shipyard in Jarrow. She was a brilliant player and on July 20, 1918, Mary was selected to play for England.

"When the war was over the munitions factories closed down and this part of working class history has almost been forgotten.

"In pub quizzes people get asked who was the youngest-ever player to score for England and who the youngest-ever England international? The answers are given as Wayne Rooney and Theo Wlacott respectively but the real answer is Geordie lass Mary Lyons.

"Her story is amazing."

The Lyons Roar, a talk by Vik Kay, Tyneside Irish Centre, Stowell Street, Newcastle, 7.30pm. Entry free.