Sunderland Lioness Jill Scott returns home to light up Fulwell for Christmas

The Manchester City star is Fulwell born and bred and was honoured to be invited to perform the big switch-on.

She chatted with fans and signed autographs and posed for picutres in Fuwell library before and after doing the honours on Wednesday, November 27.

“This is where I grew up,” said the former Fulwell Infant and Juniors and Monkwearmouth pupil.

“We were always coming to the library and I loved being here at Christmas. It is great to see everybody here and how excited everybody is for Christmas.

“There are lots of people in Sunderland that have gone on to play football, so to be chosen to come back to do the switch-on made me feel very honoured.”

Jill’s routine makes it difficult to get back to Sunderland as much as she would like, so she was delighted to be able to catch up with family, especially nephews Charlie, 11, and Dexter, eight, and three-year-old niece Dolly.

She added: “I was really keen to sort my schedule out so I could come up. Ot has meant a quick drive up from Manchester, but it has been worth it.

“I don’t get back as often as I would like to because training is very busy.”

Jill started her career at Sunderland and moved to Everton before joining Manchester City in 2014.

She made her full England debut in 2006 and has been a mainstay of the international sqad for 13 years, representing her country at the London Ollympics in 2012 and in June this year put in an appearance at her fourth World Cup.

One budding youngster who was overwhelmed to come face-to-face with one of her footballing idols was 10-year-old Millie Scott.

Millie attends St Benet’s Primary School and is a member of the new Year Five girls’ football team.

She had her photo taken with Jill and explained what it is she loves about the beautiful game.

The youngster added: “I just like how you can play with your friends and you can all enjoy it. I like all the fun that you can have.”