Amber Borthwick supports Sunderland while her younger brother Finley is a big Newcastle United fan
Sunderland fan Amber Borthwick (left) and her brother Finley Borthwick (right), who supports Newcastle United
Sunderland fan Amber Borthwick (left) and her brother Finley Borthwick (right), who supports Newcastle United(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
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Football mad siblings Amber and Finley Borthwick are counting down the days until their second Tyne-Wear derby. Amber, 11, supports Sunderland while Finley, 10, is a big Newcastle United fan.
The pair, who live in West Rainton, witnessed the two teams playing each other for the first time when Sunderland beat Newcastle 1-0 at the Stadium of Light in December last year. Amber went to the match with her gran and Finley watched at home.
Amber and Finley's mother Vicky Wardle said they have been counting down the days until the second derby of the season takes place at St James' Park on Sunday. The 32-year-old told ChronicleLive: "They can't wait!
"They're already having arguments over who is going to win. Amber is sending him pictures of things getting battered and Fin's saying 'Mind the gap'.
"The bickering is constant between the both of them. Amber will say something like 'Two days until you get a walloping' and he's like 'Yeah right'."
Amber (left) and Finley (right) will be supporting different teams on Sunday
Amber (left) and Finley (right) will be supporting different teams on Sunday(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
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Amber and Finley are part of a divided family when it comes to North East football. They both supported the Toon but Amber changed her allegiances to Sunderland after going to games at the Stadium of Light with her gran Linda Borthwick, 66.
Amber was at the derby on December 14 when Toon striker Nick Woltemade scored an own goal to give Sunderland all three points.
Vicky, who supports the Magpies, said: "The last time Amber was at the game. She said it was amazing, she loved every minute of it.
"She came home and she was right up a height. The first thing she said to him was 'Did you watch the game Fin?' and that started an argument. He was in the huff.
"They are still bickering now. Amber was having his life about Newcastle getting beat off Barcelona 7-2 the other night. She was saying 'If they play like that we'll hammer them'.
Newcastle United fan Finley Borthwick
Newcastle United fan Finley Borthwick (Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
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"Fin is saying 'We're going to win this time'. We had been playing well, until the Barcelona game, so we have to get them this time!"
Amber and Finley will be watching the game at home with family members. Vicky, who is a kitchen assistant at a care home, said: "They are both really looking forward to it. It's going to be a great game.
"I'm at work on Sunday so Amber and Fin will be with my mam and dad and my brother, who's a mackem. They will be watching it at home with party food.
"One of them will be in the huff and one of them will be up a height. Whichever way it's going to go I'm going to have one unhappy child when I come back from work!"
Sunderland fan Amber Borthwick
Sunderland fan Amber Borthwick (Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
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Amber, who also goes to watch Sunderland Women, plays for Newcastle City Juniors FC. She initially played for New Durham AFC before transferring to the club, which is based in Newcastle's West End.
Vicky added: "She's still playing for City Juniors in her black and white strip, which she absolutely despises. It's just the wrong colour!"
The last time Newcastle and Sunderland faced each other in the league, prior to this season, was March 20, 2016. Amber was a toddler and Finley wasn't even born.
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