Allocation 2,846 , for our game ,have sold 2,300 so far ,fantastic supporters
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Allocation 2,846 , for our game ,have sold 2,300 so far ,fantastic supporters
Whenever Sunderland's support is mentioned on this board, it invariably brings back memories of the time they came to Ninian Park (early 80s?) and made it feel like an away game for us. I was approaching the ground along Tudor Rd and had not witnessed such away support like it.
When you factor in Sunderland's population is about half of Cardiff's and that they have a massive club just a few miles up the road, it puts their support in perspective.
The current metro population of Sunderland is 345,000. With many other neighbouring places with decent populations such as Durham, Chester-le-Street etc it has a large catchment area to the south of Newcastle. In fact I’ve worked with lads from Blyth, which you’d assume was a Mag stronghold, who are Mackems through and through. I went with them years ago to a first division relegation clash at Maine Road, 15,000 away fans, Moss Side was awash with red & white. You say a massive club up the road, you can rest assured, Sunderland are just as big as Newcastle.
On the way to that game, a Sunderland fan dressed as a Gorilla and his mate (not of the female Gorilla type) approached me as I walked down Sloper Rd, and the Gorilla said out loud, in a good natured manner, “oh look, finally a Cardiff fan”. “Three nil” he added chortling away.
“Yes, 3-0 to City”, I had to agree.
I guessed he didn’t take it too well, because of the expletives coming forth, and the way he was stepping towards me with clenched fists.
But his mate quickly diffused any situation and started laughing at his Gorilla friend, slapping him on his silverback, and said “he got you there!”.
So I continued on walking to the game, together, with my 2 new best mates, and what seemed like a million good natured Sunderland fans.
I can’t remember the final result, but I seem to recall that it was a draw in suspicious circumstances, given that depending on other results, a draw would give them the title, and we would avoid relegation.
Apparently Sunderland have sold 2,771 tickets
If you've not watched Sunderland til I Die yet it's well worth a watch (Netflix). Much more interesting I thought than All or Nothing Man City/ Arsenal/ Spurs.
Take it from Newcastle -
“Sunderland’s a massive ATF”
https://youtu.be/brZlUfTtPmw
Sunderland are a big club
But they are not as big as Newcastle who get 50000 in the championship
Apart from the plastico clubs nobody can match that
Gateshead is the classic if you can't beat them join them. The town's identity is overwhelmed by Newcastle. Newcastle United's Chairman voted for the town's football club to be booted out of the league in 1960. Yet there are probably more fanatical NUFC supporters per head of population in Gateshead than in N-U-T itself.
South Tyneside, Hebburn, Jarrow and South Shields have always been split between black and white and red and white; but were probably 70/30 in our favour. That all changed when Keegan returned in '92. Among the under forty-years-old football fans there it's probably more than 70/30 in Newcastle's.
Washington, although technically part of greater Sunderland, has a lot of people who've moved from Tyneside and has a lot of black and whites.
Durham, Consett, Chester-le-Street and West County Durham are split with an increasing percentage of Newcastle fans. Bishop Auckland is sadly majority Newcastle these days though bizarrely West Auckland is still probably more red and white. Shildon is a small place.
So Newcastle United has the entire county of Northumberland with a tiny few exceptions, mainly descendants of Durham miners who at some point moved to the Northumberland coalfield. They have Gateshead and increasingly the rest of the South bank of the Tyne. They have half and growing support from West and South County Durham and before long will have countless bandwagon jumpers from throughout the U.K..
We retain Sunderland and the East Durham coast down to Peterlee.
Although historically our record can match Newcastle United's their support has in the vast majority of seasons slightly exceeded ours. I fear in the future their success on the field and their support off it will leave us in their wake. But we'll still have our club!
I was at that Sunderland game in 1980. Had to delay kick off to let them in, never seen anything like it. Official crowd was about 20,000, but there must have been quite a bit more than that there. Seemed like it.
I had started watching the City a year or so before this; most home games and a smattering of aways. I had up to this game been impressed with the number of our fans that travelled. Seeing the number of Sunderland fans in and around the ground that day put it in perspective. Really impressive turnout.
That’s really interesting..
Our catchment is really wierd. Huge population area. I’d say the old Mid and South Glamorgan which is something like 1.1m and then a good part of Gwent ( except Newport) which would be another 300k..
Sadly the actual fans are spread very thinly across this area with most football fans following LFC and Man U.. in terms of local clubs we’d be the most popular in all the area I mentioned.
Massive potential, particularly with rugby on the wane, but wasted by mistake after mistake running the club.
In 2022 the population of sunderland metro area was 344,000. and like Cardiff they get support from a greater area. Up there you re either one or the other, Geordie or mackem.
I think there is such support for football because its such a miserable place to live it's about the only way to have a good day out
Used to be similar sized clubs back in the 70’s/80’s looking at crowds….Newcastle definitely moved into pole position in the PL time and seem to have found another 20,000 fans….it must be tough to be a Sunderland fan at the moment, it’s going to get much worse too.
Have you lived there?
I agree it can be a great outing, like city supporters going up for a weekend when we played Newcastle, but believe me, I'm not trying to be nasty, I'm just telling the truth. It's depressing, and there is no release from that. Newcastle has it's good points but in my experience Sunderland has none except the football team.
I've a soft spot for Sunderland.
F'ck The Mags!
Perhaps we are arguing and agreeing about the same thing. I have never lived in the North East but spent many months of my life working in Newcastle, mainly Jesmond and the Business Park. You only have to watch Get Carter to see the difference between Newcastle then and now. The transport infrastructure knocks South Wales into a cocked hat and the places I mentioned I would argue are great places to live.
If you were just on about the Sunderland area then I have no quibbles.
Yeah that North Yorkshire coast, Scarborough, Whitby etc is a bit of a blank on my personal map. The Northumberland Coast, north of Newcastle, though is absolutely stunning. From Alnmouth, the port of Alnwick (inland but worth a visit), up to Craster, Dustanburgh, Seahouses through to Lindisfarne. The jewel is Bamburgh Castle and its beach though. On the right day (not guaranteed) it takes your breath away.
When we were last there it was a bit surreal as they were preparing to film the latest Indiana Jones film there the next week. Bit strange to wander the ramparts where there were mock burnt out turrets and Second World War German half trucks in the grounds!