‘I once took charge of a Tyne–Wear derby, what figure said to me is unprintable’
Keith Hackett has revealed how he was once forced by the police to give the go-ahead for a Newcastle against Sunderland showdown despite terrible playing conditions.
The former PGMOL chief refereed countless major derbies, as well as European and international fixtures across his career.
Hackett puts the atmosphere experienced in the fixture he refereed at St James’ Park in April 1993 as one of the most ferocious he can remember.
However, had the official had his way, the Tyne-Wear derby would not have gone ahead that day.
Police forced Newcastle vs Sunderland game to go ahead
Hackett believes Sunderland had grounds to postpone their clash with Newcastle this coming weekend, but that will clearly now not be happening.
Sunderland are already living in Eddie Howe’s head and an intense atmosphere can be expected at the Stadium of Light as this famous fixture finally returns to the Premier League.
Security preparations are in place ahead of the high-profile showdown, with a ‘bubble’ operation not in place for the match.
That means Newcastle fans do not have to meet at a pre-arranged location beforehand prior to being escorted to the stadium, as has been the case previously.
Asked for his own personal experiences of the fixture, Hackett exclusively told Mackem News: “Many years ago I officiated this derby between these two sides and, frankly, it is one of the best atmospheres that I ever officiated in.
“Passion runs high in the weeks leading up to this encounter. The police and security officers have great experience and come out in large numbers. The first sign of any trouble, they react.
“So I have no doubt that weeks of planning have been in place. I had the experience of officiating the reverse fixture at St James’ Park, which was scheduled for a Sunday noon kick-off.
“The pitch was, in places, like a lake. I had conversations with the league, with a delay on making what I felt was an obvious abandonment. The chief constable, hearing that this might be the plan, came into my dressing room had a long conversation with myself and league officials.
“He ended by informing me and everyone else that this game would go ahead. Kevin Keegan, as we walked into the tunnel, asked me ‘was I for real?’.
“The police were concerned that a cancellation would result in a major problem in the city centre, hence the game going ahead. The players were terrific and at the end of the match we were all covered in mud.
“On my way out I bumped into the groundsman and his exchange of words are unprintable. His playing surface was like a ploughed field. I had sympathy knowing the amount of work he had to do.”
Why Sunderland hold edge over Newcastle
There is very little to separate Sunderland and Newcastle right now in terms of the quality of the two sides, which says a lot about the Mackems’ trajectory in recent times.
Sunderland may have lost 3-0 to Man City last time out, but they are still a point better off than their hated rivals.
The hatred has not died down from Hackett’s days of officiating this fixture – if anything, it could reach boiling point given how few and far between these meetings have been in recent years.
Sunderland have averaged 2.14 points per game at home in the Premier League this season, which is the fifth-best return of any side – narrowly ahead of Newcastle (two per game).
Away from home, Newcastle are averaging 0.86 points per game, which is among the lowest in the entire division.
That is why Sunderland must head into this contest full of confidence and without any sort of fear. Newcastle are there for the taking.
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