Sunderland

Newcastle United and Sunderland: harmless banter or poisoned hatred?

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Time soon enough for the talking to end and the real stuff to take over. But after a season without the need for a Newcastle United “Who are You?”, the Toon version of the feature is back as surely as the derby itself Keith Topping*, author (40+ books) and broadcaster, is the man whose dismantling of the Tony Blair/St James’ Park myth (deserved to be true, but there you go – see footnote**) was reluctantly given prominence here a while back. Stand by for an entertaining read from someone who sees through Mike Ashley but may still believe the Mags to be “everyone’s second favourite club”…

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Newcastle v Sunderland: Alan Shearer penalty points

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Click here for Salut! Sunderland’s first look at the derby through Mag eyes …


As every schoolboy ought to know, our last win at St James’ Park – a distressing 10 years ago – was made all the sweeter by an Alan Shearer penalty miss. Here are two of the many stories of that aspect of Nov 18 2000 …

Aintree, for the 2001 Grand National. On the basis that nothing is too good for the Sunderland-supporting working class, Guy Illingworth felt no shame at being treated to all the goodies corporate hospitality can bring. Plus a famous neighbour.

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Newcastle/Sunderland flashbacks: when Dr Feelgood felt good then bad

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Click here for Salut! Sunderland’s first look at the derby through Mag eyes …

Let the build-up to the Tyne-Wear derby begin. We think we know plenty already: Newcastle will not do a PSV Eindhoven and beat us 10-0; we won’t repeat the 1908 scoreline of NUFC 1 SAFC 9, and it will be tense on and off the field. Starting today with a priceless tale from the Sunderland-supporting Dr Feelgood lead singer, Salut! Sunderland offers a few bits and pieces of derby-related nostalgia as matchday approaches. We will have at least one Toon “Who are You?” feature. Pete Sixsmith will take his own look back at past encounters before climbing eight miles high in the St James’ Park away end to report on the game. And read on for news of a little competition …

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French fancies: not so Nice for Eric Roy

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Before we get hopelessly bogged down with pre-derby coverage, Monsieur Salut gets up early to update events in France …

After an uplifting victory over St Etienne, who are doing well in the French Ligue 1 for the first time in years, the team every Sunderland supporter should keep a soft spot for – Nice, managed by Eric Roy – resumed their mini-slide.

A 1-0 defeat in Lens was the disappointing result from Nice’s weekend (and heaven knows how they got back from the grim north to the sunny Med with all those fuel blockades). So the Lads/les Mecs slip to 13th (our finishing position last season) when victory would have taken them to seventh (where we are now).

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Soapbox: admiring FC United of Manchester, recalling our past glories

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The latest chapter of Pete Sixsmith’s own version of Notes from a Small Island takes him to Gigg Lane, a ground where Sunderland have enjoyed happy times, but for an FA Cup tie featuring neither SAFC nor Bury …


There are certain grounds in the pantheon of Sunderland’s success that you just look back at with fondness and nostalgia.

Hillsborough for ’73 and ‘92, Sid James Park for that wonderful night in 1990 when Marco put the ball past Fat Burridge and, for me, Gigg Lane, Bury, where we cemented promotion in 1999 with an emphatic 5-2 win.

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Soapbox on beating Aston Villa: Dunne and dusted

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It was nerve-testing, but three points took us into hallowed Peter Reid territory (seventh top or, as one wag put it, two wins off second place, two defeats off second bottom). Pete Sixsmith reflects on our victory – and joins heaven knows how many other headline writers in coming up with the Dunne & dusted pun …

Twelve months ago, we went to Villa’s next door neighbours and lost 2-1. It wasn’t a great performance and for me, it marked the beginning of the end of the first phase of that season. We had performed well up until then, with a mixture of decent home wins (Hull City, Wolves, Liverpool), an excellent performance at Old Trafford, where we should have won and a couple of away stinkers (Burnley and Stoke).

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Another voice: on coping with Newcastle

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After each game, Ian Porter offers fellow Sunderland fans his analysis at the Blackcats e-mail loop. Agree or disagree – some would say he’s spot-on about Mensah, utterly wrong about SuperKev – his views are sharp and well argued. Luckily, Ian has given Salut! Sunderland permission to reproduce them here from time to time …

There’s already been some debate on Turner v Mensah v winning team etc. These are the decisions that managers have to take & getting them right is what separates the top managers from the rest.

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Wayne Rooney and the snarling face of Manchester United

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The Wayne Rooney saga has elements of farce, suspicion of greed and clear evidence of breathtaking arrogance. The Grand Central train towards Sunderland v Aston Villa seemed a good place for some thoughts on another, more disturbing aspect …

If Brian Clough, Charlie Hurley, Jimmy Montgomery or Kevin Phillips had moved from Sunderland to Newcastle United, I would have been angry and annoyed, more so than if the transfer had been to any other club.

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Sunderland v Aston Villa: the Villa fans predicting Toon gloom

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Image: Ben Sutherland

So, we put the same questions Gordon Nicoll answered yesterday to a younger Villa fan, 15-year-old karate star Andy Summers*, whose dad, Colin, couldn’t resist chipping in too. Highlights include fond words for the Ace Diver Gary McAllister (sorry lads, but he was with Liverpool anyway then), transfer bids for Bent and Cattermole and two more Villa votes for Toon Doon …

Salut! Sunderland: How could you go to St James’ Park and lose 6-0 and how do we avoid it when we go there a week on Sunday?

Unfortunately we played the Magpies too soon. First home game back in the Premiership they were obviously high on adrenaline and still had some momentum from their promotion. We think
it’ s best to play newly promoted sides a little more into the season
when they have had a few chunks knocked out of them and begin
to feel the pace a little bit. Having said that, Villa pressed the self
destruct button after missing a penalty. They lost their shape and
in some areas commitment was sadly lacking. Only one result after
that. For the Black Cats to avoid a similar result it shouldn’ t be too
difficult. North-east rivalry will have all players “ pumped up” and
this usually ends up with sides cancelling out each other. Steve
Bruce is a canny manager and we are sure he has firm ideas on
how to suppress Newcastle’ s flair players and exploit their lack of
pace at the back.

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