Split family loyalties didn't bother Chris Rigg in the Tyne-Wear derby
Chris Rigg celebrates at full time after Sunderland beat Newcastle
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Chris Rigg admitted he would have to hide from his Newcastle United-supporting dad after his wild celebrations with the Sunderland fans inside St James' Park.
The Black Cats struck a dagger through the hearts of 50,000 Geordies inside the ground - and that of Rigg's own father watching at home - after a dramatic win sealed by Brian Brobbey's late winner.
The midfielder comes from a divided household when it comes to sporting ties, with his dad a staunch black and white, while Rigg's own loyalties - and some of his family's - are now firmly with Sunderland, the club he has grown up with through the Academy.
And he showed that passion for the Wearsiders with his celebrations after the final whistle. He stood in front of the 2,000 travelling fans in the Leazes End to soak in the moment before heading back to the dressing room and then returning to the pitch with a camera to record the fans and take pictures.
It will have left mixed emotions for the Rigg household, many of whom were watching from home - while he may have to give his dad a wide berth for a couple of days.
“No, he wasn’t here. He was at home,” Rigg said when asked if his father had been in attendance. “He probably won’t be happy. He’ll be happy for me, but obviously that’s his team. I probably won’t see him now… I’ll have to try and hide from him again.
“The media team told me to do it [return with the camera], and I was so buzzing. The fans were unbelievable. We couldn’t have done that without them, and we did it for them.”
Rigg has previously talked about his family's Newcastle allegiances and how it hasn't affected him as a player. Earlier this season he said: “Sunderland are my club, I’ve been here my whole life. I come from a family of Newcastle fans, there is no point hiding that, but it changes when you play for Sunderland in front of those fans.
“My family being Newcastle fans has no impact on me, it doesn’t change the way I feel about Sunderland. The fans have been unbelievable. They could have thought, ‘Nah, he’s a Newcastle fan’ or whatever, but I think I’ve shown what this club means to me. It’s not really a debate.
“My dad gives me a little bit of stick, but he comes to all Sunderland’s games. I think he is a secret Mackem now. He puts his son above everything, he loves watching me and he absolutely loves coming to our games.”
The victory at St James' Park earned Sunderland their first league double over Newcastle since 2014-15 and 18-year-old Rigg - the youngest man to play for Sunderland in a derby in the Premier League era - played his part in a second-half turnaround after they trailed to Anthony Gordon's opener.
“I don’t think it was a technical problem," he added. "I think we just had to realise that we were in a big derby and we needed to show a bit more heart and a bit more character, so I think we’ve done that.
"This is the first one that I’ve played in, and the first one that we’ve taken two wins from as well. We always look forward to these type of fixtures in a season and we’ve come out on top."
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