It has been six years since Newcastle United and Sunderland last contested the Tyne-Wear derby. March 20, 2016 was the last time these two bitter rivals went head-to-head - a game that saw the Magpies stop the six-in-a-row rot as Aleksandar Mitrovic bagged a dramatic late equaliser at St James’ Park.
A temporary truce between the two cities ends this Sunday at Swan Hunter Recreation Ground in Walker - the home of Newcastle East End FC - as the Magpies take on the Black Cats in a walking football match. The slower-paced adaptation of the world’s most popular sport emerged a decade ago and the North East is already home to several competitive sides.
Walking football mainly attracts those of an older persuasion but participants of all ages are welcome. Dave Noble, who organised the derby match to raise awareness for mental health, founded Last Legs FC in 2018 after becoming hooked on the pastime. The club have since earned recognition from the Newcastle United Foundation for their community work as part of the Be A Game Changer campaign.
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Dave believes walking football is the perfect hobby to stay active while maintaining that competitive edge. “When you are nearing 50, feel quite fit and still want to be competitive, walking football is a good way to do that,” he told ChronicleLive. “It helps you stay healthy and improves your mental health.
“It is basically six-a-side football. The ball cannot go above crossbar height, you are not allowed to tackle from behind and you are not allowed to sprint. As far as running goes, everybody runs a little bit. But the rule is as long as you have the sole of one foot on the floor - at all times - you are not breaking any rules.”
The idea came about when Dave reached out to Eddy Hope, who runs the Tyneside Life YouTube channel. The original plan was to produce a video on the local walking football scene but Eddy saw an opportunity to add some extra bite to the occasion - while raising awareness for a good cause.
He told ChronicleLive: “The reason for the Tyne-Wear derby theme is to generate interest from Newcastle and Sunderland fans. When I make the video, I'm going to beef it up to make it seem like a ‘grudge’ match.
“Predominantly, it is a sport for those in their 50s and 60s, us folk who are getting on a bit and cannot run as fast, but there is no age limit. Jogging football would probably be more accurate.”
Visitors are welcome to attend Swan Hunter Recreation Ground in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 4UP to watch Newcastle vs Sunderland. Kick-off time is 2pm and the game will also be live-streamed on the Black & White Vision Facebook page.
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