The Tyne-Wear derby – Why Sunderland and Newcastle boast one of football’s fiercest rivalries
Sunderland and Newcastle United have provided intense battles on the pitch, and the fixture is to return this season.
Like many of the great rivalries in football, there is a deep-rooted history between the North East clubs that goes beyond the sphere.
Since Regis Le Bris’ men triumphed at Wembley Stadium, supporters have grown restless at the thought of their impending meeting, with the first set for 13 September.
With that game firmly in the minds of fans, Mackem News explores the great rivalry and why it has become the spectacle it is today.
Sunderland and Newcastle United’s rivalry goes beyond football
Sunderland have started the Premier League season emphatically, while Newcastle have shown promise without delivering many points.
However, when the North East pair meet in December, they will reignite a feud that has lasted for centuries.
During the English Civil War, which lasted between 1642 and 1651, Newcastle supported the royalists (King Charles I), while Sunderland backed the Parliamentarians.
Indeed, the political and economic divide paved the way for the rivalry to grow.
During the 1800s, both North East cities became industrial powerhouses, with competition for trade and jobs adding to the tension.
- Newcastle specialised in coal mining, shipbuilding, and engineering
- Sunderland specialised in shipbuilding, glass, and coal
The first meeting between the two clubs was in 1888, with the Wearsiders triumphing 2-0 in an FA Cup tie.
With just over 10 miles between the two cities, it is clear why the rivalry is one of the best in football.
While the Magpies won the most recent clash between the two, also an FA Cup tie, the Black Cats boast the better recent record.
Sunderland won six Tyne-Wear derbies in a row between 2013 and 2015, but Newcastle edge the head-to-head with one more win.
Read more: Regis Le Bris – all you need to know about Sunderland’s promotion-winning manager
Can Regis Le Bris win the next Tyne-Wear derby?
The last meeting between the sides was a non-event, with Michael Beale’s hopeless boys trounced by Eddie Howe’s impressive men.
However, times are changing in the North East, meaning the next contest should be a close one.
Of course, the Magpies will be the favourites, given they are a Champions League side brimming with talent.
- Sunderland have won 53 meetings
- Newcastle have won 54
- There have been 49 draws
But, as Sunderland have shown before, you need more than talent to secure a derby day victory.
During their stretch of six successive wins, the Black Cats were always the underdog, but they made up for that in passion and belief.
This season, there has been plenty of that already, and with Xhaka leading the lads out at the Stadium of Light, there will be some added steel.
While it will take a gargantuan effort, Le Bris has an army that can rise to the challenge.
Sign up for the Mackem News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Sunderland AFC news sent straight to your phone