I’m sad to see only one North East club at the top
I MAY be in the minority among Newcastle United fans, but I’m actually sad to see both Sunderland and Middlesbrough relegated from the Premier League.
Look, I know their supporters will have laughed and mocked last year, but it isn’t good for North East football.
Apart from Newcastle flying the flag by winning the Championship title and winning promotion, it’s been a miserable season for football in the North East.
Hartlepool have gone out of the Football League, which is awful.
Then both Boro and Sunderland have gone down.
Hull as well; they’re a northern club, if not a North East one. It’s a sorry state of affairs. I know there may have been a lot of mocking towards Newcastle when we were relegated last season, but I think it’s healthier for a football-mad region like the North East to have every club in the Premier League. When I was at Newcastle, all three sides were in the second division.
We were all aiming to get back up, though – and the intense rivalry was something we all fed off.
I used to absolutely love the North East Football Awards.
It was a great night out for all involved, and it was always a great laugh.
But that intense rivalry also made me a better player.
I wanted to win the North East top scorer award. I wanted to win the North East player of the year award. I wanted to be in the North East team of the year. It meant something to me and I want to see it meaning something to the current crop of players too.
Newcastle are a massive club and are the biggest in the North East in my opinion.
But Middlesbrough and Sunderland are big clubs as well with passionate supporters. The region lives and breathes football. I don’t want to see them in different divisions. As a player, I always wanted to beat the Mackems. I wanted to hammer them and get the bragging rights. But I didn’t want to do it just once. I wanted to do it over and over again. I wanted to keep beating them. I wanted that rivalry to continue. Sunderland have had the number on Newcastle for a while now, and I wanted revenge next season. I know Rafa Benitez would target Tyne-Wear derbies, and I think he’d soon correct the poor recent record we have in them. North East football needs
Apart from Newcastle winning promotion, it’s been a miserable season for football in the North East Mick Quinn
three clubs in the Premier League. Worryingly, though, I don’t see any of the three teams going down coming back up.
Boro have the best chance, but they’ll need to get rid of Steve Agnew – because he isn’t the answer.
If David Moyes stays at Sunderland I’ll take my hat off to him and give him credit, but I think he’s on a hiding to nothing.
That club is in a complete mess and I can’t see them backing him like he needs.
Unfortunately, I fear we won’t be seeing any North East derbies for a while.
It’s a good job Newcastle are flying the flag for the region. Long may that continue.