On 13 April 2026 I spoke in Sunderland at a public meeting organised by the Literary & Philosophical Society. The subject was the 1926 Miners' Lockout and General Strike. I was one of three speakers alongside academic Duncan Hamilton and a political hero of mine, Heather Wood.
This was how I introduced myself - Peterlee born football author and socialist Mark Metcalf supports the only football club to be formed by a trade union, Sunderland AFC. A semi-skilled machine operator and GMWU shop steward at Tudor Foods in his early years, Mark was the secretary of Sunderland Fans Against Racism in the 90s through to 2004.
Working in London in the 90s, Mark was spied upon by the
Special Demonstration Squad for ‘crimes’ such as successfully organising
workers who defied the anti-union laws + victims of miscarriages of justice.
Now living in West Yorkshire, Mark has been a full-time
writer since 2008 and has, in particular, an extensive knowledge of rural
affairs. His work for Unite the Union has included many booklets on heroes from
the past + a short booklet on the 1926 Miners’ Lockout and General Strike.
Mark was very active during the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike, about
which he later co-wrote a highly successful book: Images of the Miners’ Strike.
In recent years, Mark has made a number of short films
including The forming of Sunderland AFC in 1880 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usd-c8GvpQE
and Sunderland’s Peterloo – Remembering The 1825 North Sand’s Massacre https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J_VXf_IIVs
www.markwrite.co.uk metcalfmc@outlook.com 07392 852561
40+ attended the event and which I enjoyed. There were lots of questions and the society has a very good venue in which to organise similar events going forward. Well done to them. I'll be recommending it to anyone living on Wearside.
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