Region is small, but perfectly formed

Aug 24 2010 By Matt McKenzie, The Journal

ARRIVING to live and work in North East a good few years ago, I remember some things more than most.

The Newcastle and Gateshead quayside – a breathtaking jumble of bridges that was to be made more spectacular as the Sage and Baltic arrived some time later.

Just last week, walking over the newly-spruced up High Level Bridge, a rainbow and the bridges below made me stop and daydream once more.

I remember the sheer number of black and white shirts crowding the town on matchday – these days it’s even rarer to have such a big ground slap bang in the middle of the city as more clubs shift to the outskirts.

I recall being struck the first time I saw the babble of humanity impossibly squeezed onto Seaburn beach for the Sunderland International Airshow.

Then, a few years later, I vividly recall the slow snaking of the faithful along the river cliffs towering up from the Wear towards the Stadium of Light.

And it struck me – many people say this – how quickly I could be far away from all of these city matters and walking in the all but car-free College Valley in heart of Northumberland. About an hour is not a bad distance between your home and heaven.

OK, the College Valley’s probably a bad example – it feels miles away from anywhere, never mind the Tyne and Wear conurbation – but it serves the point. This is a region of contrasts, variety and wonderful fulfillment to be had at the slightest scratch of the surface.

This 100 Reasons supplement is testament to that.

These pages are designed to showcase everything this region has to offer, not least the mammoth role the North East would play on a global scale should FIFA award England the tournament in 2018.

There are just 100 days until the announcement of the host nation and, if it goes our way, St James’ and the Stadium of Light are poised to host matches on the biggest stage of them all.

We can only hope that, for the benefit of thousands of football fans the world over, they get the chance to visit.

Because we might ask not what the World Cup can do for the North East, but imagine what the North East would bring to the World Cup.

An integrated bus and Metro system that would have fans whizzing from fan park to stadium in no time. Ample hotel rooms – can you think of a more spectacular setting in England than the Hilton on the Gateshead Quayside? – and one or two things to do other than watch football.

Two world heritage sites and one world-class site waiting to be the third.

Some of the most stunning visitor attractions in county – think Lindisfarne, Bamburgh, Beamish, the Great North Museum, and Alnwick Castle and Garden.

But let’s not give away the 100 Reasons here.

This is a compact region, easy to get around and boasting world-class performances in many fields.

Here we look at a few, with the help of some of The Journal’s specialist writers, starting with the wider sporting achievements spawned by the region.

There follows a journey through culture, heritage, environment, education, health, and business.

Together, it makes for impressive reading.