The Tyne–Wear derby, also known as the Wear–Tyne derby or the North East derby, is a local derby between the association football clubs Sunderland and Newcastle United. The derby is an inter-city rivalry in North East England with the two cities of Sunderland and Newcastle upon Tyne just 12 miles (19 km) apart. Sunderland play their home matches at the Stadium of Light whilst Newcastle play their home matches at St. James’ Park. The first meeting of the two sides took place in 1883, with the first competitive fixture being an FA Cup tie in 1888 which Sunderland won 2–0 over Newcastle East End.

Tyne–Wear derby
Uniforms
Typical Newcastle United and Sunderland kits.
Other namesWear–Tyne derby
North East derby
LocationTyne and Wear
Teams
First meeting1888
Latest meeting6 January 2024
FA Cup
Sunderland 0–3 Newcastle United
StadiumsNewcastle: St James' Park
Sunderland: Stadium of Light
Statistics
Meetings total157
Most winsNewcastle (54)
Most player appearancesJimmy Lawrence (27)
Top scorerGeorge Holley, Sunderland (15)
All-time seriesNewcastle: 54
Draws: 50
Sunderland: 53
Largest victoryNewcastle United 1–9 Sunderland
1908–09 First Division
(5 December 1908)
Tyne–Wear derby is located in Tyne and Wear
St James' Park (Newcastle)
St James' Park (Newcastle)
Stadium of Light (Sunderland)
Stadium of Light (Sunderland)
Location of the two teams' stadia in Tyne and Wear

The statistical balance between the sides is very even: to date, having played 157 times in their history (excluding friendlies) with Newcastle just edging out Sunderland by a win, 54 to 53 wins respectively whilst sharing 50 draws; (see summary of results for breakdown).[1][2][3] Sunderland have won six top-flight titles against four for Newcastle.

History edit

Rivalry beyond football edit

The history of the Tyne–Wear derby is a modern-day extension of a rivalry between Sunderland and Newcastle 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.[4]

Sunderland and Newcastle again found themselves on opposite sides during the Jacobite risings, with Newcastle in support of the Hanoverians with the German King George, and Sunderland siding with the Scottish Stuarts.[5]

Football rivalry edit

Prior to the beginning of the twentieth century, the main rivalries in Sunderland and Newcastle were cross-town affairs. In Newcastle a 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 November 1887; Sunderland won 2–0.

Around the turn of the 20th century, the rivalry began to emerge. The 1901 Good Friday encounter, late in the 1900–01 season at St James' Park had to be abandoned as up to 120,000 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.[6] 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.[citation needed] On 5 December 1908, Sunderland beat Newcastle 9–1 at St James' Park, despite this Newcastle still won the league title that season finishing nine points ahead of their local rivals who finished 3rd.[7][8] The result remains the biggest ever win in a Tyne–Wear derby, as well as the Wearsiders' biggest ever win away from home[9] and Newcastle's biggest ever home league defeat. Newcastle's largest victory margin in a derby is 6–1, which they have achieved twice – at home in 1920 and away in 1955.[7]

In 1979, Sunderland won 4–1 at Newcastle, with Gary Rowell (who was born in Seaham, County Durham) scoring a hat-trick.[10] On New Year's Day 1985, Newcastle-born Peter Beardsley scored a hat trick in Newcastle's 3–1 victory in the fixture.[11]

 
Side-by-side comparison of Newcastle's and Sunderland's final league positions 1891 to the present

In 1990, the sides met in a Second Division play off semi final dubbed 'the biggest Tyne–Wear derby in history'.[8] The first leg at Roker Park ended goalless after Sunderland missed a penalty; however they then won the second leg 2–0 at St James' Park. Towards the end of the second leg, some Newcastle fans invaded the pitch in the hope of forcing an abandonment.[12] However, the game was resumed and Sunderland completed the win.[13] Sunderland went on lose the final to Swindon Town, but were still promoted due to financial irregularities at Swindon.

In a memorable derby on 25 August 1999, Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit dropped leading scorers Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson to the bench. Sunderland went on to win 2–1 at St. James' Park thanks to goals from Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn, and in the face of outrage from Newcastle fans, Gullit quit before their next match.[8][14] Sunderland repeated the feat a year later, in a match remembered for Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen saving a Shearer penalty.

21st century edit

 
Players warm up at the Stadium of Light ahead of the derby game.

In an eventful derby on 17 April 2006, Newcastle came from 1–0 down at half time to beat Sunderland 4–1 at the Stadium of Light.[15] One of Newcastle's scorers that day, Michael Chopra, later joined Sunderland and played in three derbies against Newcastle. On 25 October 2008, Sunderland beat Newcastle 2–1 at the Stadium of Light, their first home win in a derby for 28 years.[16]

On 31 October 2010 Newcastle beat Sunderland, who played with ten men for over 37 minutes, 5–1 at home,[17] with their captain Kevin Nolan scoring a hat-trick, while Sunderland's former Newcastle defender Titus Bramble was sent off. Newcastle led the return fixture in January 2011 1–0 thanks to another Nolan goal, only for Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan to equalise in injury time.[18] The next derby took place in August 2011 at the Stadium of Light, where Newcastle won 1–0 thanks to a Ryan Taylor free kick. The return fixture at St. James Park ended 1–1. Both sides were charged by the FA for failing to keep their players under control, charges which they both accepted.[citation needed]

On 14 April 2013, Sunderland defeated Newcastle 3–0 at St James' Park in manager Paolo Di Canio's second game in charge, their first away win in the fixture in 13 years. The attendance for the game was 52,355 with 2,000 Sunderland fans, this included the suspended Black cats midfielder Craig Gardner. The Sunderland goalscorers were Stéphane Sessègnon in the 27th minute, Adam Johnson in the 74th minute and David Vaughan in the 82nd minute.[19] The following season saw Sunderland do the double over Newcastle for the first time since the 1966/67 season and win three derbies in a row since 1923[20]- the Black Cats edging a 2–1 Stadium of Light on 27 October 2013,[21] before a repeat 0–3 victory at St James Park on 1 February 2014, with goals from Fabio Borini, Adam Johnson and Jack Colback.[22]

On 21 December 2014, Adam Johnson scored a late goal in the 90th minute past goalkeeper Jak Alnwick at St James' Park, ensuring that Sunderland had defeated Newcastle in four consecutive derbies - a new record and also Sunderland's third consecutive victory at St James' Park. On 5 April 2015 Sunderland again defeated Newcastle to make it five derby wins in a row and complete the double victory over Newcastle for a second consecutive season; Jermain Defoe scored from 22 yards on the stroke of half-time to give Sunderland victory.[23] On 25 October 2015 Sunderland once again defeated Newcastle to make it a record sixth consecutive derby victory. A penalty from Adam Johnson opened the scoring which saw Newcastle down to 10 men with Fabricio Coloccini sent off as a result. Then a goal from Billy Jones and a Steven Fletcher volley sealed the win.[24] The most recent league meeting of the two sides, on 20 March 2016 at St James' Park, ended in a 1–1 draw, with Jermain Defoe opening the scoring for Sunderland before Aleksandar Mitrovic equalised for Newcastle.

With Sunderland having been relegated to the third tier of English football in 2018, they became eligible for the EFL Trophy, which also included underage teams of Premier League clubs such as Newcastle. Sunderland's first team met Newcastle's Under-21s in the 2018–19 competition, winning 4–0;[25] due to the local interest this match attracted a crowd of over 16,000, far above the average for the competition, but is not counted towards statistics relating to the derby (Sunderland went on to reach the final but lost to Portsmouth on penalties). Newcastle faced Sunderland away in the FA Cup on the 6th January 2024, the first derby since 2016. Newcastle won that match 3-0, securing a first away win over their rivals since 2011.

Hooliganism and violence edit

The Tyne–Wear derby has on occasion experienced incidents of football hooliganism. In 1990, as Sunderland led the playoff semi final 2–0, some Newcastle fans entered the pitch, in the hope of getting the match abandoned. There were 160 arrests in connection with a game in 2001.[26]

In March 2002, the Seaburn Casuals (a Sunderland A.F.C. firm) fought with hooligans from the Newcastle Gremlins in a pre-arranged clash near the North Shields Ferry terminal, in what was described as "some of the worst football related fighting ever witnessed in the United Kingdom".[27] The leaders of the Gremlins and Casuals were both jailed for four years for conspiracy, with 28 others jailed for various terms, based on evidence gained after police examined the messages sent by mobile phone between the gang members on the day.[28]

On 2 April 2003, about 95 fans were arrested when around 200 fans of Sunderland and Newcastle clashed in Sunderland city centre before an England UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying match against Turkey in the city. The fans then attacked the police, pelting them with missiles including bottles, cans and wheel trims. Some sources attributed these clashes to a resurgence in the conflict between the Gremlins and Seaburn Casuals.[29] At the end of the 2002–03 season, Sunderland topped the football arrests table with 154.[30][31]

In 2008, after Sunderland beat Newcastle at home for the first time in 28 years, there was a small pitch invasion by Sunderland fans, and missiles were thrown at Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton, although manager Roy Keane played down the seriousness of the incident.[32] On 16 January 2011 in the FA Premier League clash at the Stadium of Light, a 17-year-old Sunderland fan ran onto the pitch and pushed over Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper, and was among 24 people who were arrested in connection with a string of hooligan incidents at the game.[33] However, incidents of violence are not as common as sometimes suggested – for example Sunderland were awarded the best behaved fans award for the 2010–11 season, despite the derby day arrests.[34]

On 14 April 2013, some Newcastle United fans rioted on the streets of Newcastle upon Tyne following the 3–0 defeat by Sunderland at St. James' Park,[35] with one fan's attack on a police horse gaining international media attention. Four police officers were injured and 29 arrests made.[36] Confrontation between fans of the rival teams at Newcastle railway station was shown in the television series All Aboard: East Coast Trains in an episode entitled "Derby Day".[37]

Away fans and policing edit

The 1996–97 season saw Sunderland join Newcastle in the Premier League. However proposals were put forward 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!"[38] In response to the ban on Newcastle fans at Roker Park, Newcastle placed a similar ban on Sunderland fans for the return fixture at St James' Park.[citation needed]

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 1996–97 season was Sunderland's last at Roker Park before moving into the brand new Stadium of Light.[citation needed]

In January 2014, following violence after the previous year's derby in Newcastle, a 'bubble trip' was announced for Sunderland fans wishing to travel to St James' Park for the game- supporters would be denied entry unless they travelled to the game on official buses leaving from Sunderland, regardless of where they lived.[39] The measure resulted in an angry response from both Sunderland and Newcastle supporters, with websites and fanzines from both sets of fans issuing a joint statement opposing the measure.[40] Subsequently, a row broke out between the clubs and Northumbria Police as to why the bubble trip was being implemented, and Sunderland AFC withdrew the conditions, and in a joint statement with Newcastle United, criticised Northumbria Police's claims that they had not directed changes in kick off times over many years as 'false and absurd', and that all future games would kick off at times to suit the clubs and any TV broadcasts.[41]

Summary of results edit

As of 6 January 2024[1][2][3]
Competition Played Newcastle wins Sunderland wins Draws Newcastle goals Sunderland goals
League 142 51 47 44 211 211
FA Cup 9 3 3 3 11 11
League Cup 2 0 0 2 4 4
Promotion play-offs 2 0 1 1 0 2
Texaco Cup/Anglo-Scottish Cup 2 0 2 0 1 4
Total 157 54 53 50 227 232

Honours edit

As of 1 June 2017
Competition Newcastle United Sunderland
Football League First Division 4 6
FA Cup 6 2
FA Charity/Community Shield 1 1
Total 11 9

Records and statistics edit

Derby double edit

Newcastle have achieved the double in nine seasons (most recently in the 2005–06 season), while Sunderland have managed seven doubles, most recently in 2014–15.[1]

Newcastle

Season Home Away
1909–10 1–0 2–0
1911–12 3–1 2–1
1913–14 2–1 2–1
1920–21 6–1 2–0
1955–56 3–1 6–1
1956–57 6–2 2–1
1992–93 1–0 2–1
2002–03 2–0 1–0
2005–06 3–2 4–1

Sunderland

Season Home Away
1904–05 3–1 3–1
1919–20 2–0 3–2
1923–24 3–2 2–0
1954–55 4–2 2–1
1966–67 3–0 3–0
2013–14 2–1 3–0
2014–15 1–0 1–0

Biggest wins edit

Sunderland 9–1: (A) 5 December 1908

Newcastle 6–1 (H): 9 October 1920, (A) 26 December 1955

Most consecutive wins edit

Sunderland 6 games: 14 April 2013 – October 2015

Newcastle 5 games: 24 February 2002 – 17 April 2006

Most consecutive draws edit

4 games: 8 April 1985 – 13 May 1990

Most derby appearances edit

Club Player League Cup Total
Sunderland George Holley 17 5 22
Newcastle Jimmy Lawrence 22 5 27

Most derby goals edit

Club Player League Cup Total
Sunderland George Holley 13 2 15
Newcastle Jackie Milburn 9 2 11

Attendances edit

Highest attendances edit

Venue Attendance Score Date
Sunderland 68,004 Sunderland 2–2 Newcastle United 1950[42]
Newcastle 56,000 Newcastle United 1–1 Sunderland 1905

Lowest attendances edit

Venue Attendance Score Date
Sunderland 25,400 Sunderland 2–0 Newcastle East End 1888[43]
Newcastle 17,494 Newcastle United 1–3 Sunderland 1893[6]

Crossing the divide edit

A number of players have made first team appearances for both Newcastle and Sunderland, namely:

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 against Gateshead twice 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.

Managers edit

Bob Stokoe, who won the FA Cup as a player with Newcastle in 1955, was manager of Sunderland between 1972 and 1977, guiding the Wearsiders to their famous FA Cup victory in 1973 and promotion to Division One in 1976. He returned to manage them briefly again in 1987.

Only two men have taken charge of both teams. On 15 May 2007, Newcastle appointed Sam Allardyce as their new manager, who had played for Sunderland in the early 1980s. He was named the new manager of Sunderland on 9 October 2015, becoming the first person to manage both derby rivals.[44] In summer 2019, former Sunderland Manager, Steve Bruce was appointed as Newcastle manager, replacing Rafael Benítez.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Sunderland football club: record v Newcastle United". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Game by Game: vs Sunderland, Toon1892.com [does not include 1888 FA Cup match]
  3. ^ a b Club Details | Newcastle United, TheStatCat
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ Griffiths, Bill A Dictionary of North East Dialect, p. 86. Northumbria University Press, Newcastle Upon Tyne, 2004
  6. ^ a b Brown, Michael (18 October 2012). "Wear-Tyne derby: What Newcastle fans can expect". nechronicle. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Real Radio Northeast - 100~102fm :: Newcastle v Sunderland: The Stats". Heart North East. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  8. ^ a b c FIFA.com. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™ - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Sunderland | the Club | History | Club History | Club History | 1908 and the Lads drub the Toon 9-1". Sunderland Association Football Club. Archived from the original on 5 July 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  10. ^ [1] Archived 16 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Ryder, Lee (2 November 2010). "Beardsley: I'm delighted for hat-trick ace Nolan". nechronicle. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  12. ^ Days, pp 275–276.
  13. ^ "Newcastle 0 – 2 Sunderland". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  14. ^ Donoghue, John (26 August 1999). "Football: Gullit's gamble backfires". The Independent. London.
  15. ^ "Sunderland 1–4 Newcastle". BBC News. 17 April 2006.
  16. ^ Lawrence, Amy (26 October 2008). "Premier League: Sunderland 2–1 Newcastle United". The Guardian. London.
  17. ^ Ashdown, John (31 October 2010). "Newcastle v Sunderland – as it happened". The Guardian. London.
  18. ^ "Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 16 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Newcastle vs Sunderland 2013 Highlights 0-3 Sessegnon Johnson Vaughan Goals Video". Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Newcastle United v Sunderland | Result | Premier League 2013-2014 - Yahoo Eurosport UK". Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  21. ^ "Sunderland 2-1 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. 27 October 2013.
  22. ^ Steinberg, Jacob (5 April 2015). "Sunderland v Newcastle: Premier League – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  23. ^ Oliver, Pete (5 April 2015). "Sunderland 1–0 Newcastle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  24. ^ "Sunderland 3–0 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  25. ^ Checkatrade Trophy: Sunderland thrash Newcastle, Manchester City U21s also progress, Sky Sports,
  26. ^ "Why They Hate Eachother – Newcastle vs Sunderland | the Subs Bench". www.thesubsbench.ca. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  27. ^ "Fight like 'scene from Braveheart'". bbc.co.uk. 12 March 2002. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  28. ^ "Calls that led to bloodbath". ic Newcastle. 14 March 2002. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  29. ^ "England's night of shame". Turks.US Daily News. 3 April 2003. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  30. ^ "Number of football-related arrests rises". www.telegraph.co.uk.
  31. ^ Echo, Liverpool (18 August 2003). "Everton fan arrests soar". Liverpool Echo.
  32. ^ Wilson, Jonathan (25 October 2008). "Crowd trouble mars Sunderland-Newcastle Premier League derby". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  33. ^ "24 arrested after derby day trouble (From Wiltshire Times)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  34. ^ "SAFC fans top league - All News - Sunderland Echo". www.sunderlandecho.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  35. ^ "Newcastle United v Sunderland: Riots after Tyne-Wear derby as fans clash with police". The Telegraph. London. 15 April 2013. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  36. ^ "Man 'disgusted' at Tyne-Wear derby police horse attack". BBC News. 17 April 2013.
  37. ^ Jeffery, Sarah (10 December 2013). "Tyne-Wear Derby trouble takes centre stage in East Coast TV documentary". nechronicle. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  38. ^ Candlish, Alan Ha'Way/Howay The Lads: The History of the Rivalry Between Newcastle United and Sunderland, p. 322. Sports Books Limited, Cheltenham, 2006
  39. ^ "Sunderland fans angry as 'bubble trip' Newcastle transport plan confirmed for Tyne-Wear derby - Sunderland Echo". www.sunderlandecho.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  40. ^ Brown, Michael (7 January 2014). "Newcastle United and Sunderland fans unite to oppose Tyne-Wear derby day travel plans". nechronicle. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  41. ^ "Sunderland lift "bubble match" derby travel restriction as Tyne-Wear rivals and police row over match arrangements". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  42. ^ "NUFC v SAFC Part 2". www.nufc.com. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  43. ^ "NUFC v SAFC Part 1". www.nufc.com. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  44. ^ "Newcastle name Allardyce as boss". BBC Sport. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2007.