Rob Lee on safc support



As recently as the mid-70s there won’t have been much in it. It’s true though the mid-90s affected it a lot, it all fell into place for them, they were doing things like signing a locally-born world class striker for a world record fee and challenging fir titles and cups, we were at best a yo-yo club. For wavering kids at one point it was a choice of them under charismatic former European player of the year Kevin Keegan challenging Man U, or our lot under Mick Buxton, bless him.
 
Not this again. However, I can't resist wading in........

Newcastle have a significantly larger hinterland than Sunderland.

They have the entire county of Northumberland living nearer to them than us. They also draw heavily from Tyne and Wear, where they have almost ubiquitous support in the war-torn estates north of the river as well as Gateshead, the second largest town in the UK with a population of over 200,000 as well as drawing around 50% of the population of South Tyneside. They also score sizeable toff support from having over 50,000 students studying at their two universities. Due to accessibility up the A1, they also take a large % from Washington and from Durham and surrounding villages, especially since they when they were formed in 1992.

We have the city of Sunderland (although lose fans from Washington see above), 50% of South Tyneside, the non-criminal fraternity from central and western Durham as well as a large percentage of the eastern Durham coalfield with noteable shout outs to those who have been fortunate to have been brought up the correct way in the places dominated by Newcastle support.

Then throw in the fact that we have been absolutely dogshite pretty much every season (with the exception of 2) since the incarnation of the premier league. It's a miracle that as many young uns as they do follow us given they've had absolutely zero to hang their coats on - ever. No near misses at premier league titles (thank Christ!), no Mackems in Milan, several relegations basically sweet FA in terms of 'success'.

In sum, the fact that we regularly attract over 30k in League 1 and sell out cup finals in 5 minutes is nothing short of remarkable. If they had had half of the shite that has come our way the city of Newcastle would have no phone boxes remaining and the Horse's Trust would be inundated.

In a nutshell, well done Sir
 
Not this again. However, I can't resist wading in........

Newcastle have a significantly larger hinterland than Sunderland.

They have the entire county of Northumberland living nearer to them than us. They also draw heavily from Tyne and Wear, where they have almost ubiquitous support in the war-torn estates north of the river as well as Gateshead, the second largest town in the UK with a population of over 200,000 as well as drawing around 50% of the population of South Tyneside. They also score sizeable toff support from having over 50,000 students studying at their two universities. Due to accessibility up the A1, they also take a large % from Washington and from Durham and surrounding villages, especially since they when they were formed in 1992.

We have the city of Sunderland (although lose fans from Washington see above), 50% of South Tyneside, the non-criminal fraternity from central and western Durham as well as a large percentage of the eastern Durham coalfield with noteable shout outs to those who have been fortunate to have been brought up the correct way in the places dominated by Newcastle support.

Then throw in the fact that we have been absolutely dogshite pretty much every season (with the exception of 2) since the incarnation of the premier league. It's a miracle that as many young uns as they do follow us given they've had absolutely zero to hang their coats on - ever. No near misses at premier league titles (thank Christ!), no Mackems in Milan, several relegations basically sweet FA in terms of 'success'.

In sum, the fact that we regularly attract over 30k in League 1 and sell out cup finals in 5 minutes is nothing short of remarkable. If they had had half of the shite that has come our way the city of Newcastle would have no phone boxes remaining and the Horse's Trust would be inundated.
Post of the year so far
 
Newcastle have more fans id say that’s pretty much a fact.

Are they better? Not particularly
Yes you are right the stats prove that newcastle have more supporters and a bigger catchment area but Rob Lee is talking bollocks their support again looking at the actual stats is not a "country mile" bigger than ours its slightly larger but not by much!and deffo not in the country mile territory ..that would be comparing newcastle or sunderland against boro or portsmouth.....
 
This all day. I tried to explain the catchment area surrounding Sunderland if you use a 30mile radius is mostly in the sea,and genuine competition for fans with them and boro mean our numbers are quite impressive.
Then if you explain further intricacies like the fact they are the only club between Newcastle up and past the borders worth a wank their numbers aren’t so amazing. The final nail in that conversation was I’m obsessed despite him going out of his way to say selling 40k for Wembley is a disgrace as we only get 32k at home if the away team bring a few thousand

The East Coast mainline also. Around their so called 'glory times' they get a new wave of young lads that come from Darlo,York even Doncaster I'd imagine. e.g.I'm in Darlo & can be directly in Newcastle and minutes from the ground within 30 minutes.
 
As recently as the mid-70s there won’t have been much in it. It’s true though the mid-90s affected it a lot, it all fell into place for them, they were doing things like signing a locally-born world class striker for a world record fee and challenging fir titles and cups, we were at best a yo-yo club. For wavering kids at one point it was a choice of them under charismatic former European player of the year Kevin Keegan challenging Man U, or our lot under Mick Buxton, bless him.

In the villages of County Durham it was always a bit mixed, massively favouring Sunderland mostly though. In the 90's that changed where big signings and doing well had a large influence for NUFC.

I'd still say in the areas I know that whilst there may be similar amount of both fans, when it comes to those who go to games SAFC support is much higher, but numbers of those who claim to be fans is pretty mixed.

The East Coast mainline also. Around their so called 'glory times' they get a new wave of young lads that come from Darlo,York even Doncaster I'd imagine. e.g.I'm in Darlo & can be directly in Newcastle and minutes from the ground within 30 minutes.

I'd actually never considered North Yorkshire or South Yorkshire until I moved down here and was travelling up and down or out watching games down here. North Yorkshire isn't a bad commute and Boro apart there's nothing else till York who are in and out the league. After that it's Leeds, Barnsley or Doncaster. Given South Yorkshire was a big mining area too and many moved down from the North East there's a few who travel up and both mags and safc down here, though seemingly more mags.
 
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Most mags are over 65. I heard a mad stat that three mags are dying per day of old age and dementia. Bad news for them really :cry:
 

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