Sunderland ticket allocation confirmed for Newcastle derby as RAWA release fresh statement over 'bubble-gate'
Sunderland have confirmed they have been allocated 2,528 tickets for the December 6th clash.
Sunderland have confirmed they have been allocated 2,528 tickets for away fans for the upcoming Tyne-Wear derby in early December at St James’ Park.
The hugely-anticipated derby between Sunderland & Newcastle United on Sunday, December 6, will be subject to a 'bubble' coach operation for the fans travelling from Wearside. Under the arrangements, Sunderland ticket holders will be required to travel to and from the fixture via official coaches, departing from and returning to the Stadium of Light. The decision by Newcastle Safety Advisory Group (SAG) and Northumbria Police has led to severe criticism from Sunderland fans.
Regarding the ticket allocation, a statement on the SAFC club website said: “Ticket information has been confirmed for Sunderland AFC’s Premier League trip to Newcastle United on Sunday 6 December. Kick-off is 2pm GMT and we have been allocated 2,528 tickets at St. James' Park. Season Ticket Holders can buy in six phases, in order of Black Cat Points. Season Ticket Plus Members can enter via the member ballot.
“Ticket purchasers should note that following a decision by Newcastle Safety Advisory Group (SAG) and Northumbria Police, a 'bubble' coach operation will be implemented for Sunderland AFC supporters attending this fixture. The club is currently finalising the coach operation and will communicate details in due course.” Full details of the six phases are available on the club website.
Sunderland AFC statement on Tuesday confirmed bubble plan
A Sunderland statement read: “Under the arrangements, Sunderland ticket holders will be required to travel to and from the fixture via official coaches, departing from and returning to the Stadium of Light.
“Supporters should report to Exit 16, next to the SAFC Ticket Office, from 9am on the morning of the fixture. Match tickets will be issued to supporters upon entering the concourse areas, prior to boarding the official coaches.
“Tickets will not be issued to anyone who does not travel via the official coach operation. Sunderland AFC stewards will be present on coaches, at the stadium and during the return journey to assist supporters with any questions or issues.
“The club is also exploring arrangements for supporters with accessibility requirements, with further information to be provided as soon as possible. Further details - including departure times, boarding arrangements, food and beverage options and additional operational information - will be communicated to supporters in due course.
“The club is currently exploring the possibility of a secondary pick-up location, subject to further consultation with Northumbria Police. Any agreed arrangements will be communicated to supporters.”
Sunderland supporters question derby restrictions
The criticism follows the release of records from an October 13 meeting of the St James’ Park Safety Advisory Group (SAG), obtained through a Freedom of Information request. Sunderland supporters’ group Red and White Army (RAWA) argues the minutes do not show that members were presented with a detailed evidence pack, formal risk assessment or comparison of alternative crowd-management plans before supporting managed coach travel.
The group also says supporters were not consulted beforehand, with discussions about engagement appearing only as future actions. However, Newcastle City Council has clarified in its FOI response that neither the council nor the SAG made a decision requiring a bubble.
It said the arrangement was recommended to Newcastle United to improve safety and allow as many visiting supporters as possible to attend. The SAG records, as summarised by RAWA, also refer to police concerns about disorder, pyrotechnics, missiles and crowd-management problems at the previous derby.
RAWA had instead backed a joint alternative proposal developed with Sunderland AFC, Newcastle United, Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust and the Football Supporters’ Association. It includes enhanced voluntary coach travel, potentially with free journeys and refreshments, managed rail services, alternative walking routes, stronger separation around St James’ Park and targeted policing at known flashpoints. Sunderland and Newcastle United fans can read all of the documents surrounding the bubble travel issue here.
What Northumbria Police have said about derby travel
Northumbria Police previously defended the arrangements on public safety grounds, saying the walk to St James’ Park before last season’s derby had presented risks they did not believe could be sufficiently addressed by repeating the same approach. In correspondence dated October 24 and published by the Red and White Army Supporters’ Trust, Chief Inspector Dean Hood said police had worked with public transport providers to assess alternatives to a coach-only operation.
He said: “The resulting supporter walk-up presented significant public safety issues which, in our assessment, cannot reasonably be mitigated through the same arrangements. These included missiles being thrown, including glass bottles and full drinks containers, as well as fireworks being discharged in close proximity to police horses operating within dense crowds.”
Hood acknowledged that the overwhelming majority of supporters were well behaved, but said those fans were also exposed to potential harm. He added that police concerns reflected both the most recent derby at St James’ Park and the wider history of the fixture. Hood also explained that the Safety Advisory Group provides advice and recommendations, while decisions about the stadium’s safety certificate ultimately rest with Newcastle City Council. In that correspondence, Hood said the purpose of the planned supporter engagement was to explain the reasoning and reduce the inconvenience caused by the arrangements, rather than reopen the decision.
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Latest Red and White Army statement
RAWA released another statement on X on Tuesday evening, it read: “It would seem Northumbria Police will not reassess their decision to impose a full bubble trip for the Tyne–Wear derby and the reality of this decision kicks in. Sunderland supporters are now expected to report to the Stadium of Light at 9am for a 2pm kick‑off at a stadium just 12 miles away.
“Some fans will travel from north of Tyneside down to Sunderland only to be taken straight back up again on escorted coaches, before being forced to return to Sunderland after the match. Over recent weeks, RAWA, Sunderland AFC, Newcastle United, NUST and the FSA have worked intensively behind the scenes to offer a safer, more proportionate alternative.
“We produced a detailed mitigation plan covering behaviour, travel, stadium operations and policing. We asked Northumbria Police to look again at their position. We highlighted the gaps in the SAG process. We pointed out the complete absence of supporter consultation in the seven months since the last derby. Despite all of this, Northumbria Police have refused to reconsider.
“We still have not seen a convincing explanation for why a bubble is needed. It leaves fans wondering if this is an exercise in cost cutting and convenience. We at RAWA are gutted for the travelling Sunderland fans who will be impacted by this, and we have no doubt that these arrangements will be reciprocated for Newcastle fans for the return fixture. Where do we go from here?”
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