Sporting scene offers plenty of cheer

Aug 24 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Chief Sports Writer Luke Edwards looks at the region's sporting scene - one of the stand out reasons why it's great up North.

SPORT is not just a popular source of entertainment for people in the North East, it shapes lives and defines lifestyles in a region that is not only home to some of the most successful teams in the country, it also stages some of Europe’s most high-profile international events.

Football may be king in a region dubbed the hotbed of English football, but it is by no means the only sport that makes the most of such passionate support.

Indeed, while Newcastle and Sunderland are two of the biggest clubs in the country, with followings that can match any of the biggest clubs in European football, they are also two of its biggest underachievers.

Newcastle have not won a major trophy since the Fairs Cup success of 1969, but even during a year in the second tier of English football last season, they had the fourth highest average attendance in the country.

The club made an instant return to the Premier League and is hoping to gradually build itself back up into a position where it can once again regularly compete for a place in the Champions and Europa Leagues.

It is a similar story on Wearside, where Sunderland’s FA Cup triumph of 1973 is all their long-suffering supporters have had to cheer in terms of silverware success. But football is more than just a leisure pursuit where success breeds support.

It is a way of life for those born and raised on the banks of the Tyne and the Wear. It is ingrained in the local culture, with allegiances passed down from generation to generation and held from cradle to grave, regardless of cups and shiny silver pots.

With another famous football name in Middlesbrough just a few miles south, football continues to dominate the sporting landscape in the North East, although there are plenty of other proud sport clubs, and more successful ones to boot.

Durham County Cricket Club have won the County Championship for the last two years and the English game’s newest first-class side also lifted the Friends Provident Trophy at Lord’s in 2007.

The county, which has produced a host of international stars during the last decade, has also proven to be a successful international venue with both Test matches and one-day games attracting bumper crowds. There is also the mouth-watering prospect of an Ashes Test against Australia in 2013 to look forward to.

Durham’s success has been more than matched by the Newcastle Eagles basketball team, who have dominated the British Basketball League for the last five years under charismatic player-coach – he was singled out by former Prime Minister Tony Blair as the most inspirational sportsman he has met – Fabulous Flournoy.

There are also two professional rugby teams to follow, one for each code. The Newcastle Falcons play in the Guinness Premier League with a reputation for producing some of the best young players in the country – many going on to represent England, including Jonny Wilkinson, Mathew Tait and Toby Flood.

Tyneside’s Rugby League side Gateshead Thunder are in the second tier of the national league and there is also professional ice hockey with Newcastle Vipers, as well as a vibrant local swimming scene that has benefited hugely from the new Olympic-sized pool in Sunderland.

The stars of the future also benefit from Northumbria University’s unflinching commitment to sport.

Few higher education institutions have devoted more time and money to sport than Northumbria, which has just finished the construction of a new 3,000 capacity arena, which hosted the GB Basketball team this month.

Team Northumbria also has a team in the National Netball League, as well as rugby teams closely linked to the Falcons and a basketball academy in partnership with the Eagles.

Whether it is with bat and ball, on track or on field, as a spectator or competitor, the North East loves everything sport has to offer.