The derby is unique in that it is an inter-city rivalry. However, the fact that the two cities of Newcastle and Sunderland are just ten miles apart give it the intense feeling of a cross-town rivalry, heightened by a feeling that it is city against city with local pride at stake. Moreover, the close proximity means that as in derby matches, workmates and friends are often divided. Areas of Tyne and Wear such as South Shields, Hebburn, Jarrow and Washington, along with parts of County Durham are fairly evenly split in their support of the two clubs.
The History of the Tyne-Wear derby is regarded by many in the North East as the modern day extention of a rivalry between Newcastle and Sunderland that dates back to the English Civil War when protestations over advantages that merchants in Royalist Newcastle had over their Wearside counterparts led to Sunderland becoming a Parliamentarian stronghold.[1]
Tyne and Wear again found themselves on opposite sides during the Jacobite Rebellions, with Newcastle in support of the Hanoverians and Sunderland siding with the Stuarts.[2]
The industrial revolution and the close proximity of the two, saw them become industrial fields, such as the Coal trade, Shipbuilding and other areas of heavy industry.
Even in the present largely post-industrial times, an animosity extending beyond football exists. Sunderland city centre has declined, with many Wearsiders heading to Tyneside to shop in Newcastle City Centre and Gateshead'sMetroCentre. Moreover, Wearsiders also have to travel to Newcastle if they wish to travel by air or rail.
The Football Rivalry
Prior to the beginning of the twentieth century, the main rivalries in Newcastle and Sunderland were cross-town affairs. In Newcastle, a fierce rivalry existed during the 1880s between Newcastle East End (later to become Newcastle United) and Newcastle West End, which was ended with West End's bankruptcy in 1892. Meanwhile on Wearside, a group of players broke away from Sunderland, and formed the rival Sunderland Albion in 1888, though Albion was forced to fold four years later.
The first meeting between the two took place in 1883, with the first competitive fixture, an FA Cup tie in 1888. The first league meeting took place at Roker Park on Christmas Eve, 1898. Newcastle drew first blood in a 3-2 victory, but it was Sunderland who were to dominate the early derby period.
During the 1900s, the rivalry began to emerge. The 1901 Good Friday encounter at St James' Park had to be abandoned as up to 70,000 fans made their way into a ground which then had a capacity of 30,000. The news was met with anger, and rioting followed, with a number of fans injured. However, in general, although the derby attracted big crowds - with fans often climbing trees and buildings for views of the game - there is little evidence to suggest any animosity between the two sets of supporters in the pre-war and immediate post-war period.
Memorable derby matches
Sunderland 2-3 Newcastle (December 24, 1898) - The first competitive meeting between the two sides took place at Roker Park on Christmas Eve, 1898. Leslie scored twice for the home side, but two goals from Jock Peddie and a third from Wardrope saw the Geordies draw first blood.
Newcastle 1-9 Sunderland (December 5, 1908) - Many Sunderland fans were locked out of a capacity St. James' Park and had to watch the Sunderland reserve game and watch the scoreboard operator flash the score. Sunderland went 1-0 up on 28 minutes, and the Magpies equalized with a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Sunderland then went into unstoppable form, scoring 8 goals in 28 second half minutes. Sunderland actually declared after 74 minutes. Despite this defeat, it was Newcastle who were crowned League Champions that year.
Sunderland 1-0 Newcastle (1980) – Sunderland's last competitive victory over Newcastle at Roker Park. Stan Cummins scored the only goal of the game in front of a crowd of over 40,000. This victory inspired Sunderland to a good run of results to clinch promotion at the end of the season.
Newcastle 0-2 Sunderland (May 16, 1990) - When Newcastle finished 3rd and Sunderland 6th in the Second Division (now The Championship), it meant the two would meet in a two legged play off semi final. The first leg at Roker Park was goalless, but it was Sunderland who won the return encounter at St James' 2-0 with goals from Marco Gabbiadini and Eric Gates. Newcastle fans invaded the pitch in an attempt to get the result cancelled after Sunderland's second goal but the remaining 5 minutes was played after a delay of almost 40 minutes. Sunderland lost to Swindon Town in the Playoff Final, but were promoted after Swindon were embroiled in a football betting scandal.
Sunderland 1-2 Newcastle (October 18, 1992) - Having won their opening 10 League games of the season, Newcastle were in no mood to lose their eleventh on the short trip to Wearside. An own goal from Gary Owers gifted the visitors with the lead, before Gordon Armstrong equalised. A sensational free kick by Liam O'Brien saw thousands of visiting Geordies erupt in the Roker End as Newcastle took the 3 points.
Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland (August 25, 1999) – On a rainy night at St. James' Park, Alan Shearer was left on the Newcastle substitutes bench by manager Ruud Gullit. Newcastle took the lead through Kieron Dyer, but a second half comeback from Sunderland through goals from Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips helped Sunderland to a win and also to Ruud Gullit's resignation the next day.
Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland (November 11, 2000) – Sunderland again defeated Newcastle, coming from behind to win 2-1 with 2nd half goals from Don Hutchison and Niall Quinn after Gary Speed had given Newcastle a 1-0 lead. With the Game drawing to a close Newcastle were awarded a Penalty after a fould by Niall Quinn but the resulting Kick by Alan Shearer was saved by Sunderland 'Keeper Thomas Sorensen.
Away fans ban
The 1996-1997 season saw Sunderland join Newcastle in the Premier League. However the anticipation of the two derby matches were soon marred by proposals to ban Newcastle fans from the ageing Roker Park on safety and security grounds. A last-minute agreement by Sunderland and Northumbria Police was to allow 1,000 Newcastle supporters to attend the game. However, Newcastle had already made arrangements for a live televised beamback, and so rejected the offer. Responding to criticism from fans, Newcastle's then Chief Executive Freddie Fletcher suggested that the state of Roker Park was to blame and told fans: "Don't blame Newcastle. Don't blame Northumbria Police. Blame Sunderland!"[3]
In response to the ban on Newcastle fans at Roker Park, Newcastle slapped a similar ban on Sunderland fans for the return fixture at St James' Park.
Fans of both sides were angry and disappointed. Fearing that this would set a precedent for future derby matches, supporters groups and fanzines of both sides joined together to form the Wear United pressure group. Supporters of both sides were assured that away fans would be able to attend future derby games, though this was probably more to do with the fact that the 1996-1997 season was Sunderland's last at Roker Park before moving into the brand new Stadium of Light.
Summary of Results
Newcastle wins
Sunderland wins
Draws
Newcastle goals
Sunderland goals
League
48
40
38
195
189
FA Cup
2
3
3
8
11
League Cup
0
1
1
4
4
Playoffs
0
1
1
0
2
Total
50
45
43
207
206
Derby Double
For either team to beat the other in both league games in a season is seen as a great achievement and a sign of superiority. Newcastle have achieved the double in 11 seasons, while Sunderland have managed 6 doubles.
Newcastle Doubles
Season
Home
Away
1909-1910
1-0
2-0
1911-1912
3-1
2-1
1913-1914
2-1
2-1
1920-1921
6-1
2-0
1955-1956
3-1
6-1
1956-1957
6-2
2-1
1992-1993
1-0
2-1
2002-2003
2-0
1-0
2005-2006
3-2
4-1
Sunderland Doubles
Season
Home
Away
1904-1905
3-1
3-1
1908-1909
9-1
3-1
1919-1920
3-2
2-0
1923-1924
2-0
3-2
1954-1955
2-1
4-2
1966-1967
3-0
3-0
Biggest Wins
Newcastle
6-1 (H): October 9th, 1920 and 6-1 (A): December 26th, 1955
Sunderland
9-1 (A): December 5th, 1908
Most Consecutive Wins
Newcastle
5 games: February 24th, 2002 - April 17th, 2006
Sunderland
3 games: December 24th, 1904 - September 2nd, 1905
Most Consecutive Draws
4 games: April 8th, 1985 - May 13th, 1990
Most Derby Appearances
Club
Player
League
Cup
Total
Newcastle
Jimmy Lawrence
22
5
27
Sunderland
George Holley
17
5
22
Most Derby Goals
Club
Player
League
Cup
Total
Newcastle
Jackie Milburn
11
0
11
Sunderland
George Holley
13
2
15
Attendences
Highest Attendences
Venue
Attendence
Score
Date
Newcastle
67,211
Newcastle United 1-0 Sunderland
March 19th, 1927
Sunderland
68,004
Sunderland 2-2 Newcastle United
March 4th, 1950
Lowest Attendences
Venue
Attendence
Score
Date
Newcastle
18,694
Newcastle United 0-2 Sunderland
April 24th, 1901
Sunderland
20,000
Sunderland 2-4 Newcastle United
December 26th, 1914
Crossing the Divide
There are a number of players who have donned both the black and white stripes of Newcastle as well as Sunderland's red and white stripes. Here are the players who have appeared in the first teams of both sides.
In addition, the guest system operated in British football during World War II meant that most teams fielded guest players. Amongst these was the Newcastle forward Jackie Milburn who made two guest appearances for Sunderland during the 1944/45 season. Another Newcastle striker, Albert Stubbins also guested for Sunderland several times during the 1941/42 season, including an appearance in the Wartime Cup Final, which Sunderland lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers despite a Stubbins goal.
^Middlebrook, S. Newcastle Upon Tyne: Its Growth and Achievement, p. 87. Newcastle Chronicle and Journal, Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1950 and Corfe, Tom History of Sunderland, pp. 35-45. Frank Graham, Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1973
^Griffiths, Bill A Dictionary of North East Dialect, p. 86. Northumbria University Press, Newcastle Upon Tyne, 2004
^Candlish, Alan Ha'Way/Howay The Lads: The History of the Rivalry Between Newcastle United and Sunderland, p. 322. Sports Books Limited, Cheltenham, 2006
