Former Sunderland star Beth Mead named Sports Personality of the Year
The forward - who began her career with the Black Cats - was part of the Euro 2022 winning squad
Last updated 22nd Dec 2022
It was a great night for North East athletes at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards last night, with former Sunderland star Beth Mead winning the top accolade.
Beth was announced as the winner of the event’s main category in recognition of her international sporting accomplishments and the impact of her success beyond the world of football. The England Women's Football Team were also crowned Team of the Year - with the official Lionesses Twitter account posting a video of Wearside's Jill Scott celebrating.
These latest accolades cap off a fantastic year for Beth, which saw her thrive at the European Championships 2022 with England’s Lionesses, winning Player of the Tournament and the Golden Boot as the team made history and lifted its first international trophy.
The Arsenal footballer scored six goals for her country at the competition, which added up to a record-breaking 20 international goals during the 2020/21 season.
Beth was also the runner-up in the Ballon d’Or Feminin, which recognises the best female footballers from across the globe.
Durham Cricket's own Ben Stokes, who is currently the England Test Cricket Captain, came in 2nd place.