From Sunderland to St James’ Park: Five Metro stops packed with Tyne-Wear derby history

The Tyne and Wear Metro system has been a source of divide – as well as a connection – between Sunderland and Newcastle fans for decades. After all, while people living on Wearside helped pay for the Metro, which opened in 1980, its network was only extended to Sunderland in 2002.

So, with many of the approximate 2500 Sunderland fans attending this Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby will be jumping on the Metro to get to St James’ Park, we have picked out five specific stations they will pass through en route which have ties – red and white ties - to the game against the old enemy.

Sunderland

Most fans will begin their journey at Sunderland station, in the heart of a city which has been a hub for footballing talent. Jordan Henderson, Jordan Pickford and Micky Gray spring to mind in the modern era.

However, in terms of homegrown red and white derby heroes, no figure walks taller than goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery – veteran of 15 Tyne-Wear league derbies, including a 3-0 win at St James’ Park in October 1967.

The Stadium of Light

Its station comes two stops along the line from Sunderland, and the ground itself has produced a fair few memorable derby moments.

But while Kieran Richardson’s thunderbolt and Nick Woltemade’s own-goal will live long in the memory, the derby highlight during 29 years at the Black Cats’ second home must be THAT volley by Jermain Defoe in the 1-0 Easter derby win in 2015.

Defoe played in three derbies for Sunderland, winning twice, and has described his strike against Newcastle as his favourite of his 162 Premier League goals.

Heworth

As their trains work their way towards Gateshead on Sunday, Sunderland fans might reflect on the quirky place Heworth holds in modern-day derby history.

For while Chris Waddle was born in Heworth and played 170 times for Newcastle, he was brought up a Sunderland fan – and made his derby debut for them at St James’ Park, 12 years on from leaving Tyneside for Tottenham.

The second of Waddle’s seven games for his boyhood club came in a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park in April 1997, in which Mickey Gray opened the scoring.

Gateshead

Three stations on from Heworth, Gateshead will be Sunderland fans’ last stop before crossing the Tyne. And if there is one modern-day Gateshead-born player who has successfully spanned that divide, it is Don Hutchison.

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Although brought up on the south banks of the Tyne as a Newcastle fan, Hutchison sparked a glorious Sunderland comeback – and their first Tyne-Wear derby win of this century.

The Black Cats had trailed for 65 minutes to an early Gary Speed goal at St James’ Park in November 2000 before midfielder Hutchison popped up with a close-range finish to set up a grandstand finale which saw Niall Quinn put Sunderland 2-1 up before goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen then famously saved an Alan Shearer penalty to secure victory.

St James’ Park

When it comes to magical Sunderland modern-day moments attached to the name shared by a Metro station and Newcastle’s home ground, does anything beat Paulo Di Canio’s goal celebration - and the start of “Six in a Row” - in April 2013

After seven winless visits to the dark side after their November 2000 victory, with the Black Cats languishing in 17th place in the Premier League and controversy still raging over the appointment of Di Canio as manager, the omens did not look good.

But that backdrop was forgotten in 90 glorious minutes, as Stephane Sessegnon gave Sunderland a half-time lead, and then Adam Johnson doubled the advantage, prompting Di Canio to sprint down the touchline towards the Black Cats fans in the away end and complete a spectacular knee slide.

David Vaughan scored a third late on, as Sunderland sparked their best winning sequence in derby history. But the day is most remembered for Di Canio’s muddy trousers.

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