It’s official – Sunderland is the sporting capital of the North East. With the new Premier League season just four days away, the city has already scored a victory over its rivals by being voted ahead of Newcastle as the greatest sporting city in the region to be a fan. It’s nice to be ahead of Newcastle in the poll. We’re used to beating them, so long may that continue Martyn McFadden In all, the research project, delivered by broadcaster ESPN, the University of Gloucestershire and University of Bath, marked Sunderland as the fourth-best city in the UK to watch sport, based on a number of factors. They include value for money, atmosphere, history, transport links, success and venues, and a survey of more than 5,000 supporters helped to create the results. Only Manchester, London and Glasgow pipped Sunderland to top spot, while rivals Newcastle were down in 16th, with Middlesbrough 34th. The biggest sporting attraction in Sunderland, of course, is the football, with the Black Cats still pulling in regular attendances of more than 40,000 at the Stadium of Light, despite a lack of recent success. Martyn McFadden, the editor-in-chief of Sunderland AFC fanzine A Love Supreme, was pleased to see the ESPN research provide the Black Cats with another victory over rivals Newcastle – who they have beaten five times in a row on the pitch. He said: “Sunderland is a really good place to watch sport. “I think the atmosphere and passion of the crowd, as well as the value for money, is probably among the best in the country. “We’ve not had the greatest football team of late, but Sunderland fans have remained passionate and that support deserves to be recognised. “The attendances are regularly better than the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, and hopefully that loyalty will be rewarded soon. “It’s nice to be ahead of Newcastle in the poll. We’re used to beating them, so long may that continue.” Steven Saunders, senior editor of ESPN.co.uk, said: “We set out to examine what really makes a great sporting city and knew that begins with fans. “Sunderland represents the North East very well with its top-five placing, and is well ahead of Newcastle and Middlesbrough.” Professor Andrew Parker, of the University of Gloucestershire, who led the project, said: “Our research into ESPN Greatest Sporting City 2015 took place over several months, and was comprised of gathering opinions from in-depth focus groups, followed by an online survey of more than 5,000 sports fans from across the UK, which was then cross-referenced with third party data from more than 100 different sources. “It was very thorough and the results provide much food for thought.” Well that just leaves one question. Who will be the first?
Lee Ryder will say that Newcastle. Is the worlds best at everything and. Everybody knows it so the figures are. Concocted and totally wrong. haha, the bong eyed loon will be a complete mess.
Dawn Clueless will be putting in an all nighter at the Beeb for Look Newcastle to prove this wrong. hahaha
Ha, check the thread time. Mine only proceeded it by about 8 hours! I'm replying to the lads who posted on here, nee crime in that. I'm not pretending Tees thread hasn't happened, but there is another two other threads on it since despite the crystal clear thread title. So I think you're directing that comment to the wrong people.
You are right (well almost, it's preceded if I'm gonna be a total arsehole), my bad, I'll be on my way... adios. please log in to view this image
I'm sure both work, my thread began a course of action which was a stream of threads on the same subject. Or have i got the context wrong? Arsehole
Well I'm sure our tree hugging mate Cardew will be along soon enough to let us know. I was just trying to take a small concession from being proved wrong in public, when my joke backfired, the sign of a ****ing arsehole!
i wouldn't know, he's blocked. Is he on much? I know all about arseholes mate, being one myself. Arseholes are everywhere, problem is most Arseholes don't realise they are one.
Not seen him for a while, you've blocked him??? He's alright I reckon, he's got decent tact for a wum.
He's a word twister. Can't stick them. He's in the Stu category, complete rat. Sort of people I get on least with in life.
Where the **** has Stu gone? Last I heard he was doing some carnival for a charity, I wonder if he accidentally put his laptop in the tombola raffle
Couldn't care less, the forum is better without lying word twisting nasty little manipulators like him. He's probably off reading books before they've been written
