Jill Scott Sculpture

Today is all about giving a shout out to the strong girls!

I realised in looking around our Fabulous North that there are any number of statues, plaques and pedestals to men, but the shout-outs and shiny bronzes are few and far between for the girls!

Hidden away, out of the wider view of Peter Public, is this enormous statue of North East treasure Jill Scott. Big and bold in bronze, it stands strong in the foyer of Gateshead College Sport Department.

Scott studied at Gateshead College, receiving a BTEC in Sports Science after she left school in 2003. She continued with her studies there and received a foundation degree in sports and exercise development, links with which the college are undoubtedly proud and celebratory, so this sculpture should live here, to inspire other learners!

It's quite imposing when you enter the reception. Measuring 15 meters, it's a massive nod to the former midfielder. She looks nothing but jubilant, with the sculpture depicting Scott with her arms outstretched in full celebration mode. It's said to replicate the joy of her 2-1 victory at Wembley against Germany!

The sculpture was initially developed as a tribute to her vibrant and successful career, which encompasses 160 England caps, and winning the UEFA Women's Euros in 2022, and taking up the limelight to join Sky Television's A League of Their Own as a team captain.

Scott played for Gateshead College's football team alongside her international teammate Carly Telford. As well as being a national treasure, the North East is proud of her achievements, and this is a memorable way to remember her contribution to sporting successes, putting her learning at Gateshead College on the map.

In 2011, Scott's performance on the field was described as -

The statue's designer is unknown, and it was perhaps used more for PR purposes than for its artistic value. It was initially revealed at a press release at The Angel of The North in Gateshead in July 2023, and spent a brief stint on site there, but was then gifted by Sky Television to Gateshead College the following summer in 2024.

Image from Prolific North 2023

I particularly liked her bronze boots (not Lucy Bronze). The detail of those winning feet up close was inspiring, as I'm sure the sculpture will be for many other budding sportsmen and women in the years to come.

It's part of the college campus and, as such, is in the public domain, but it's probably appropriate to ask for permission to view the piece, as it is an academic establishment and not open to the public.

Though not a personal favourite, it's important to recognise the positivity and productivity of the lasses! And it's good to see the integrity and skill of a woman bigged up in bronze!