Opinion
When it comes to Sunderland v Newcastle United, it got me wondering.
Now that Sunderland’s Championship bubble has burst and they are beginning to tumble from the summit of the second tier, there is only ever one possible way for them to find respite and solace.
The Mackems have been trying to dredge up anything lately to have a dig at their bigger local rivals Newcastle United.
After our fine-spirited 3-3 draw against Champions-elect Liverpool, Newcastle United were apparently lucky that the scousers hadn’t turned up, according to many inhabitants of Planet Mackem.
After all we are apparently now back in our rightful place in mid-table and our nigh-on two-year flirtation within the confines of the top six are most definitely over and never set to return.
We also play the most awful football, using dark arts perfected under the devious and dastardly Eddie Howe.
Players like [Alexander Isak](https://www.themag.co.uk/2024/12/harry-redknapp-dreaming-of-an-alexander-isak-repeat-brentford-v-newcastle-united/), Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon are seemingly vastly overrated, whilst the Newcastle and England full-back pairing of Livramento and Hall cannot defend and are out of their depth.
Sky North East football reporter Keith Downie receives merciless personal abuse, tantamount to character assassination, on a daily basis from the Mackems online.
Keith’s initial apparent crime was to report live on the events and proceedings outside [St James’ Park](https://www.themag.co.uk/2024/11/need-to-call-out-this-elephant-in-the-room-or-should-that-be-elephant-in-the-park-st-james-park-newcastle-united/) during the announcement of the takeover in 2021.
I literally despair when I am out and about and sometimes have the misfortune of listening to casual fans lamenting the loss of the derbies through Sunderland’s latest long absence from the top tier.
When I was a young-un, derbies were as rare as hen’s teeth.
I’m going to list below the years/periods Sunderland haven’t been in the top flight since I began supporting Newcastle United.
1970-1976 (Second Division)
1977-1980 (Second Division)
1985-1987 (Second Division)
1987-1988 (Third Division)
1988-1990 (Second Division)
1991-1996 (Second Division, 1st Division, Championship)
1997- 1999 (Championship)
2003- 2005 (Championship)
2006- 2007 (Championship)
2017-2018 (Championship)
2018-2022 (League One)
2022-present (Championship)
Let nobody try and remonstrate with me that Sunderland AFC should rightfully be plying their trade in the higher echelons of English football.
What I will say, is that I used to enjoy going to Roker Park in the 1980s and 1990s, on the rare occasions they were on a level pegging with us league-wise.
It was an antiquated old stadium with a certain degree of character.
When Sunderland relocated to the Stadium of Light in Monkwearmouth in 1997, the mackems kissed goodbye to a massive piece of their historical identity.
As the late great quiet Beatle George Harrison once poignantly lamented, All things must pass.
That is why I can live quite easily nowadays without smaller fry like Sunderland trying to claim local bragging rights once a decade.