Pride, passion and perspex
ST JAMES' PARK welcomed the return of one man on Sunday. He is a rather, erm, well built fellow, who wears a Newcastle shirt, sits with the fans and hadn't been seen around the stadium for some time.
No, I'm not talking about Mike Ashley, I'm talking about the chap who bellowed out "Blaydon Races" in front of 52,084 people on a bitterly cold January afternoon.
"Who's that bloke, and what on earth is he singing?" questioned the journalist next to me. I went on to explain that he sings the Geordie anthem before every derby game at Newcastle, with a certain twist on the lyrics, in order to ignite the atmosphere. And boy, did it work.
It was crackling with vitriol, tension, hope and passion. Both sets of fans took the game in its true spirit and no trouble ensued inside the ground, unlike the reverse fixture in October.
It wasn't just the crowd who showed their passion and frustration though. Both dug-outs could be seen rattling with angst and annoyance through slamming fists and swinging legs as the Perspex nearly shattered. It was clear how much this game meant to each side, not just for points, but for pride as well.
In the end, Sunderland emerge with the upper hand having beaten Kevin Keegan's side at the Stadium of Light and grabbed a draw at St James' but they will feel that, without the absurd decision to grant Newcastle a penalty, they deserved to do their first double over their North East rivals for the first time in 42 years.
Oh well, there's always next season...isn't there?
Older/Newer
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Pride, passion and perspex. TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.sunderlandbanter.co.uk/cgi-bin/mt421/mt-tb.cgi/108339
Leave a comment